The auto parts supplier Webasto closed its headquarters in Stockdorf because of the corona virus cases. It reopens on Tuesday after two weeks. Traders and employees of the Starnberg Health Office are also on the way to normality.
Stockdorf - How quiet it has been in Stockdorf in the past two weeks can be seen from the cakes and donuts sold, among other things. Better said the unsold. "We had up to 50 percent less sales," says Florian Harter. The Confiserie Harter, which he runs with his brother Ludwig, is a cake bakery, café and lunch table in one. And it is opposite the Webasto headquarters, which had closed since January 29 due to the coronavirus cases and will reopen this Tuesday.
"We are on the way to normality," says Harter. But only since Webasto communicated via the media that the company has the situation under control. The confectionery operator: “People were unsettled in the first week and stayed at home. Some have canceled reserved tables. “In general, there was little going on in the café, especially at lunchtime. Because Webasto employees like to take seven or eight tables during their break.
Business trips to and from China are suspended until the end of February
As of Tuesday, more than 1,000 of them will be working at the headquarters again. You return from the home office. "It worked well," says Webasto spokeswoman Antje Zientek. IT and controlling staff or salespeople could work well on the laptop at home. "Many office activities are located in Stockdorf." In the end, only around 40 employees were employed on the site - a "task force" that kept communication going and a group that drove prototype construction for roof systems. And external special cleaning staff disinfected desks and door handles. “Increased hygiene standards” continue to apply at all locations worldwide, according to yesterday's Webasto announcement. Business trips to and from China are suspended until the end of February. Commuting between German locations is allowed again when the head office is opened.
CEO Dr. Holger Engelmann summarizes the situation as follows: “We are relieved that no new illness has occurred since the beginning of last week. We are still cautious because very little is known about the virus. But it looks like our quick and decisive action has broken the infection chain in the company. ”
Coronavirus: Stressful weeks for the infected and the health department
The eight infected Webasto employees (only one of whom lives in the district) are still in clinics in Munich and in the Traunstein district. According to Engelmann, some of them are "completely symptom-free" and could "probably be discharged shortly". The past few weeks have been an enormous burden, especially for the colleagues who tested positive and their families. "Above all, they now need time for themselves and their relatives."
The state of health in Starnberg was also in a state of emergency. Its head Dr. Lorenz Schröfl was one of the first medical professionals to be exposed to the 2019-nCoV virus in Europe. He speaks of a “massive workload into the evening and at the weekend - and without a lunch break. The employees went beyond their limits. All phones were blocked ”. According to Schröfl, citizens or doctors constantly called to inquire about how to deal with the virus. “One of our main tasks was to reduce the panic. Sometimes there were completely unfounded fears, ”says Schröfl. The public health officials made daily inquiries with around 50 contact persons for those infected in the district. They also tested about 140 Webasto employees for the virus together with the "Task Force Infectiology" of the Bavarian Health Office.
According to Schröfl, the Starnberg authority recently "got a lot of other things left behind". But normalcy is now returning there too. "But we are on call and at all times in watchfulness."
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