"Unfortunately, the rate at which restrictions on public life have to be announced remains high," said Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel at the daily briefing today, Wednesday, March 18, at City Hall. Klingebiel went on to explain: "It is necessary and sensible to suspend tourism operations in order to largely prevent chains of infection across the region. The protection of people with disabilities is also particularly important to me."

To this end, the city of Salzgitter issued a general decree on March 18 in coordination with the state of Lower Saxony, which is valid from March 19. This covers the areas of overnight stays, restaurants, workshops and day care centers for people with disabilities as well as comparable offers of integration assistance. "The main aim of all measures is to reduce social contacts to an absolute minimum in order to further reduce the likelihood of infection. This is the only sensible way to control the number of new coronavirus infections," Klingebiel continued.

This regulation will be implemented today by all districts and independent cities in Lower Saxony on the basis of the technical directive from the Lower Saxony Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Equality and will therefore apply throughout the state.

Klingebiel added on the subject of closing the town hall: "This was a necessary step. Many concerns and questions to the administration can also be clarified by post, e-mail and telephone. The first emergency appointments at the town hall were made today, Wednesday, and we would like to expressly point out that you must bring a photo ID (identity card or passport) with you to the appointment so that you can identify yourself. And I once again renew my urgent appeal to all citizens to consider carefully, in the interests of their own health and the health of my city employees, whether the emergency appointment you have requested at the city administration can wait a little longer, even in this critical situation."