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fromAgnes Schoenberger
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conclude
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Offenbach has the most corona infections in Hesse. The crisis team met and developed a strategy.
- In Offenbach, the number of new coronavirus infections has risen sharply in a short time.
- In order to contain a second wave, the city has developed strategies.
- In addition to restrictions, there are also stricter controls.
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Offenbach – Offenbach has become Hesse’s corona hotspot. Nevertheless, the crisis team spoke out against declaring the city a risk area and closing companies or public institutions. Life in Offenbach can therefore continue without any drastic restrictions for the time being. However, the crisis council decided to carry out more controls in order to reach “mask refusers”. In addition, mandatory tests for returnees from risk areas as well as a barbecue and picnic ban in public areas are to be made effective immediately.
Offenbach has reached the next level of escalation in Hessen
Joint sport in groups of more than ten people is only allowed contactless and at a distance of one and a half meters. The five-square-meter rule applies again to urban events and in urban spaces. These regulations apply initially for the next two weeks.
The city hit the headlines after warning level three of the Hessian escalation concept with 35.6 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants had been reached within seven days. 65 citizens were infected with the virus on Sunday, more at the same time than ever before. From 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants, there would be further restrictions. It doesn’t look like that at the moment; no new infection has been reported in Offenbach since Sunday. The number of infected people fell to 63.
If necessary, Offenbach should be shut down
Mayor Felix Schwenke (SPD) had declared before the meeting that the city was ready to shut down everything without hesitation if it was necessary. But you also proceed with a sense of proportion, he emphasized. The infection process can be traced very well. Only six of the 46 who tested positive did not know where the infection came from.
He appealed to the mayor to all Offenbachers to avoid contact with other people in the next 14 days as far as possible and to only do what is absolutely necessary. The main reason for the new infections were holidaymakers returning from the risk areas of Serbia, Kosovo and Albania. A private bus ride to visit a cheese factory in the Netherlands further aggravated the situation.
Yet again? Because the number of cases is currently increasing again, we ask you to avoid meeting friends / relatives for the time being https://t.co/K1dM0dqAoo#Offenbach am Main #offenbachammeer #stadtoffenbach #schoeneeckenausoffenbach #stayhomestaysafe #corona # sommer2020 pic.twitter.com/MmBXZUDOKU
– City of Offenbach (@Stadt_OF) August 3, 2020
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In Offenbach, violations of the corona mask requirement are punished with a fine
As city spokesman Fabian El Cheikh announced, two people had started the journey to Holland sick. During the trip, they infected six other people, who in turn infected seven people from their family who were already under quarantine. So it is a clearly delimited infection process.
The city had already reacted to the new corona cases on Friday and announced an information campaign in several languages for travelers returning. In addition, the public order office and the police should support the health department in tracking chains of infection. Violations of the mask requirement will be punished immediately with a 50 Euro fine. Restaurants and businesses that do not adhere to the hygiene requirements have to pay several thousand euros, depending on the extent.
Is the population structure the reason for the high number of new corona infections in Offenbach?
Offenbach was noticed at the beginning of the pandemic with very low case numbers. This was explained by the social structure of the poor city. People just didn’t have the money to go skiing to Austria or Italy, where many holidaymakers were infected.
The increase in new corona infections is now more likely to be related to the population structure. People from 155 nations live in Offenbach, two thirds of the residents have a migration background. Many go on vacation in their country of origin. In the opinion of City Councilor Paul-Gerhard Weiß (FDP), the problem is not the vacation, but how to behave there.
In Offenbach’s pedestrian zone, people remain optimistic
The Offenbach pedestrian zone was very busy yesterday. There was no noticeable uncertainty about an impending lockdown. Quite a few passers-by wore a mask, perhaps a little more than recently. Lisa Schumacher, owner of Steinmetzschen Buchhandlung, said she was positive and hoped there would be no more closings. Everything stands and falls now with the development of the new CoronaInfections. The bookstore was closed for five weeks. But now business is going very well.
Peter Krenzer from Brasserie Beau d’eau on Wilhelmsplatz made a similar statement. He pointed out that without a visit to the cheese factory, the corona numbers would not be nearly as high.
Constant discussions about the mask requirement complained of Matthias Wörner, the chairman of the EOSC, which operates the forest swimming pool. Employees were therefore even molested. He therefore decided to close the sanitary block. Visitors are now only able to use mobile toilets and cold showers. (From Agnes Schönberger)
Offenbach is taking steps against further corona spread. There are irritations because of free tests, since the same rules do not apply in Hessen as in other federal states.
New corona infections in Offenbach: The crisis team has decided to only allow visits to old people’s homes outdoors and in large rooms. Quarantine has meanwhile been ordered for several daycare groups.
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