How the friendship community Nickelsdorf gets through the corona pandemic

The corona virus did not stop at the Geretsried Friendship Community of Nickelsdorf in Austria. Mayor Gerhard Zapfl reported to our newspaper about the last few months.

Geretsried / Nickelsdorf - The proximity to Hungary is one of the reasons for Geretsried's friendship with Nickelsdorf in Austria. From there, you take the motorway directly to Hegyeshalom, Hungary. Nickelsdorf's mayor Gerhard Zapfl was most concerned with the border crossing at the beginning of the corona pandemic. Now the situation in Nickelsdorf has relaxed more and more.

Long backlogs at the border crossings

When the reports about the new virus rolled over in March and the borders were closed, long backlogs formed at the border crossings. Only citizens and goods traffic are allowed to enter Hungary. Romanians, Bulgarians and Ukrainians have to wait for the border corridor to open at night. Serbs, however, are temporarily not allowed to go to Hungary at all, because they cannot travel to Serbia from there due to the closed borders.

“Some of them got stranded with us, that was an exciting situation,” says Zapfl. The people in transit stayed on the outskirts for several days. When they went shopping in the village on foot, he intervened heavily, the mayor said. “Everyone should stay at home and they should walk into town without a mask.” Finally, the Red Cross took care of the stranded people until they were allowed to go home. "That created a certain tension for two or three weeks," says Zapfl.

The Nickelsdorfers themselves were “disciplined” during the lockdown, according to the mayor's judgment. He knows from a villager that he was infected with the corona virus in Ischgl. "He had to be in quarantine for 14 days," said Zapfl. He is not aware of any other cases in his community. “The district administration only reports this if the municipality has to be active. I didn't hear anything then. "

As in Germany, the pandemic also welds Austrians together. To ensure that people who belong to a risk group, five students have come together in Nickelsdorf and take on shopping and pharmacy services for their elderly citizens. “It's a wonderful gesture and shows a good sense of togetherness,” says Zapfl.

Low death toll

After a strict lockdown phase, catering businesses have been able to offer pick-up food again since Easter Monday, and the restaurants reopened at the beginning of May. Since the beginning of July, waiters no longer have to wear masks, and sports are again allowed without restrictions. "The numbers are increasing again, but not as before," said Zapfl. The need of the hour is now to appeal to reason, where it is possible to keep your distance and disinfect your hands. “The low death rate shows that the government is on the right track. In hindsight you always say what could have been done better, but it went really well. "

The Nickelsdorfers held their first municipal council meeting on June 8th after the outbreak of the coronavirus. "Keeping a safe distance and I opened doors and windows," reports the mayor. In the town hall, plexiglass panes separate employees from party traffic. "I think that you can live with it relatively well if you use common sense."

Nova Rock Festival had to be canceled

Nickelsdorf has so far not had to complain about closed companies. “The climax of the economic slump is yet to come,” fears Zapfl. Mayors and councilors have already got a foretaste. A minus sum had come from the federal government, and the otherwise profitable Nova Rock Festival in June had to be canceled. Zapfl: "We have shut down all investments and postponed projects so that only the most necessary measures remain."

sw

Also read: How the Geretsried Friendship Community Pusztavám in Hungary gets through the Corona crisis