Unlike in Denzlingen and Ehrenkirchen, there are currently no cases of corona infections and related deaths in nursing homes in the communities west of Freiburg.
There are no corona infections in the nursing homes in western Breisgau. This applies to both the Caritas home in Umkirch, which opened in the summer, as well as the DRK homes in March and the Evangelical City Mission Freiburg in Bötzingen.
At the city mission, all care facilities in the region are currently free of corona, explains managing director Ewald Dengler. At the beginning of the pandemic in spring, there were several cases of infection in the nursing home in Breisach, and six residents also died. “Even if the number of cases is rising again everywhere, we are set up completely differently than in March and April,” explains Dengler. Sufficient protective equipment is available and the hygiene concepts developed precisely in every facility have worked well.
Antigen tests have been available since mid-November
Antigen tests have also been in use since mid-November, but always on a case-by-case basis, explains Dengler. This applies, for example, if residents show a possible symptom or if employees may have had contact with infected people. In the Siloah house in Bad Krozingen, fixed test times are also offered twice a week, also for visitors. On average, one would get around 30 tests at such an appointment, and here too the results have all been negative so far.
In the DRK senior citizen center in March, as well as in the two outpatient care services and in the day care recently opened in St. Peter, one has been spared cases of infection so far, explains Annette Hoffmann, Head of Nursing in the DRK district association. Rapid antigen tests are also used in the Marcher nursing home. On average, every employee is tested once a week if possible, with residents aiming for a test every two weeks. Initially, a test cost seven euros, now it’s already nine euros. These material costs, but also the use of staff – employees have been specially trained for this – can be billed as services. So far, all tests have been negative, explains Hoffmann, but also emphasizes, “It’s all a snapshot, the situation can change daily”. Visitors have not yet been tested, but would be able to do so at any time if one deems it necessary. So far, visit management has proven itself, explains Hoffmann.
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