Anyone who is suspected of being infected with Covid-19 must be tested. For people in the city and district of Offenbach, that means making their way to the test center in Frankfurt. But that will probably no longer be necessary in the foreseeable future: Offenbach is to have its own test center.
Offenbach – The signs of this are growing more and more, even if both the city and the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians have not yet signed a corresponding contract.
However, it should not be long before such an agreement is presented. As reported several times, the city has been interested in becoming the location of a test center since the beginning of the corona pandemic. Lord Mayor Felix Schwenke and Head of Health Sabine Groß have been talking to KV about this for months – a few weeks ago it became apparent for the first time that Offenbach’s wish could become a reality.
When asked by our newspaper, the KV said that they would comment on the details of the agreement soon. The city is still covered, a request remained unanswered by the time we went to press. From well-informed circles, however, one can hear that two locations in the city area were shortlisted: the exhibition halls and the old metalworking shop on the EVO site. It is said that the exhibition halls are preferred.
Arnd Hinrichkap, Managing Director of the fair, confirms that there was an on-site meeting and corresponding discussions. “The negotiations have not yet been concluded,” he emphasizes. “As a trade fair we are happy to help people in the Rhine-Main area with a test center.”
A clear advantage for the trade fair in contrast to the Alte Schlosserei would be the accessibility: A bus stop is located directly in front of the entrance, and parking spaces are available for visitors on the banks of the Main – a weighty argument. Because many visitors from the district should prefer to travel by car instead of public transport.
“If an agreement is reached and a contract is signed, we could open it within a day,” says cap, “that is not rocket science for a trade fair company.” The northern hall would be a possible test center: It would have two entrances, one in the Kaiser – and one in Bettinastraße, so that with the one-way system, visitors would not meet and the risk of infection within the center would be extremely low.
Kap emphasizes that the fair is well positioned thanks to a good hygiene concept. “The air in the halls is completely exchanged three times within an hour,” he says. He regrets that already planned events such as the leather goods fair have been canceled by the city. “Our concept makes the fair safer than other places in the city. Even with a high incidence, we could enable safe events. ”This concept could now be the decisive advantage for the planned test center and the decisive factor for the location.
This would help many people in the city and district, because up until now they had to visit the test centers in Frankfurt, which regularly aroused criticism: The way is too far for people from the district, and there is a risk that when traveling by bus and train Passengers would be infected.
In addition, almost a month ago chaotic conditions occurred at the test center at the Frankfurt University Clinic: the center had to be closed due to overcrowding. A school class at the Leibnizgymnasium was also affected, which was ordered there by the health department for the purpose of a corona test: To the annoyance of the parents, the students had to go home after a long wait – without a test.
From Frank Sommer
–
