The Corona warning app is a bargain

How expensive is the Corona warning app? A request from the AfD brings clarity. The costs are in the three-digit million range, but compared to questionable large-scale projects, the Corona-Warn-App is a bargain for every German citizen. A commentary by Kaan Gürayer.

“It’s not the first Corona app to be presented worldwide, but I’m pretty sure it’s the best,” said CDU politician Helge Braun when the Corona warning app was launched. Almost two years have now passed: Braun is no longer head of the Chancellery and the euphoria about the Corona warning app has long since evaporated.

Corona warning app has cost more than 130 million euros so far

So is the Corona warning app a flop, a million dollar grab, as mockers claim? At least the development was and is not cheap, as a small inquiry by the AfD parliamentary group in the Bundestag has now revealed. Accordingly, the Corona warning app has so far cost more than 130 million euros (Source: Bundestag).

Development and operation accounted for around 52.8 million euros in 2020, further development and operation have caused costs of around 63.5 million euros so far in 2021. 13.7 million euros and 71,000 euros were spent on advertising. The monthly costs for operation and maintenance are estimated at 3.94 million for the past year, In 2022 it should be 2.66 million euros.

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A scoop of ice cream for every citizen

For a mere mortal, these are of course unimaginable sums. However, if you break down the costs for every German citizen, a different picture emerges: Then the Corona warning app only beats along 1.56 euros to book. Therefore you can get just one scoop of ice cream in many cities in Germany. No comparison with other major projects such as BER or the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, which cost billions.

1.56 euros – that’s how much everyone should use the Corona warning app, the one potential lifesaver is and is also constantly being further developed, but be worth it.