Neighbourhood help in Corona times

As the virus continues to spread, people at risk need help. In order to make everyday life easier for them, the population is organising itself - especially on social media.

Slowing the spread of the virus, protecting risk groups: every day counts in the fight against the corona epidemic. Whether it is the delivery of food and medication or everyday help: there are some initiatives in Central Switzerland. Please send any inputs to: online@luzernerzeitung.ch

Zug:
Facebook group ‘Zuger helfen Zugern (Zug people help people from Zug)’ (public), zhz-zug@gmx.ch, 076 412 07 41
Kiss neighbourhood help Cham. Offers and inquiries to Karin Pasamontes, 076 443 38 58, cham@kiss.zeit.ch, www.kiss-zeit.ch/cham
In this way you can support people from the risk groups

Interior Minister Alain Berset demanded solidarity from the Swiss population last Friday in order to counter the latest escalation level of the Corona virus. Central Switzerland seems to have taken the urgent words of the SP magistrate seriously. Dozens of groups who offer help in the current crisis situation and who have organised among themselves are listed on the Internet platform
www.hilf-jetzt.ch. It’s often a matter of Facebook groupings, while others also communicate also via Whatsapp.

Belong to risk group: people over 65 years of age.

One of the associations is called “Lucerne help Lucerne”. According to founder Rosa Kolm, who also looks after groups for the cantons of Zug, Schwyz and Ob- and Nidwalden, only 50 new requests were received yesterday. For Rosa Kolm, this voluntary help is essential. She emphasizes: "We are in an extreme situation." Now's the time to show solidarity with the population groups who are particularly threatened by the virus. In addition to people with pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, according to the Federal Office of Public Health, people above the age of 65 are particularly at risk.

This is where Kolm's groups come in: “A person at risk can hang their shopping list on their mailbox, for example. A neighbour then gets the things and puts them in front of your door.” This happens without any physical contact, and the payment can be regulated, for example, by bank transfer. Alternatively, of course, it is also possible to put the money in an envelope in the helper's mailbox. "Payment is based on trust," says Kolm. However, it’s particularly important that the older people are not reluctant to use the support. Here Kolm becomes clear:

    "I really appeal to the elderly to seek help."

But it’s not only purchases that can help people from the risk groups to cope with their everyday life. Schools across the country are closed from today, but many parents still have to work and some daycare centres have also closed, making childcare an acute issue. "The group members have already come into contact here," says Kolm. So there are no limits to solidarity.

Note: Further information on neighbourhood assistance can be found at www.hilf-jetzt.ch.
There, you can search for, found or join groups.