Munich (dpa) - Testing for the novel coronavirus is to be stepped up on a "massive" scale in Bavaria, regional Health Minister Melanie Huml said in Munich on Sunday, announcing a testing blitz.

"A cornerstone of our Bavarian test concept is that all people who want to be tested for SARS-COV-2 infection should be able to find out whether they have been infected," Huml added.

The government was offering tests for all Bavarian residents as quickly as possible, even for people without symptoms, but people with symptoms suspected of having Covid-19 should take priority.

The tests are to focus on abattoirs and meat-processing plants.

The aim is "to prevent major outbreaks like in Guetersloh," the top regional health official said, referring to an outbreak in western Germany that has led to a shutdown affecting over 600,000 people.

So far, the first comprehensive round of tests on employees from 51 slaughterhouses in Bavaria revealed 110 positive results. A further 33 selected facilities is set to conduct tests on employees.

"We also want to find out whether extreme physical exertion or working in unfavourable climate conditions are possible further risk factors for a coronavirus infection," Huml added.

Germany was edging closer to 200,000 coronavirus cases on Sunday, after the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the country's infectious diseases body, reported 256 new infections, for a total of 193,499.

So far, 8,957 people have died as of Sunday, the RKI added.