In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Germany has converted their largest football field into a treatment centre.
The Borussia Dortmund football team confirmed in a statement that it will convert its Westphalon/Signal Iduna Park Stadium to a centre for treating people living with the coronavirus starting April 4th.
The stadium, the largest in German football, will now be used to assist patients that are suspected of having the virus exclusively, not those who have already contracted and are battling the illness.
A treatment wing will be opened in the fourth floor of the north grandstand will be open from noon to 4 pm every day.
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The club official issued a statement saying the stadium is the head of the city, located at a fixed point for almost everyone in Dortmund and the surrounding area.
Thanks to its technical conditions, infrastructure and space it is the ideal place to help people who are infected or who complain of corresponding symptoms such as respiratory failure disease and fever.
They added, “It is our duty and our desire to do everything possible to help.”
In their statement, Dortmund made it clear that the new setup at Signal Iduna Park was merely to complement the existing hospital structures.
Primary practitioners will remain the first point of contact.
The aim of the conversion is to break down any possible chains of new infections by those already under treatment infecting other people in the wards.
Each patient under treatment will be assessed and the doctor will come to a decision as to whether the persons should continue to receive outpatient treatment or be moved to a regular facility.
“Sure, the idea is unusual at first – those with a fever and respiratory problems in the stadium for examination – but in fact we have the ideal conditions here. We were therefore very happy about the offer and the help from Dortmund,” said Dr. Dirk Spelmeyer, chairman of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians of Westphalia-Lippe (KVWL).
German Defense minister Ingret Karenbauer announced in an interviews with ARD radio about another rare procedure.
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It confirmed that 15 thousand German soldiers will be deployed throughout the country, in a rare measure to secure vital facilities and distribute medical aid ad protective medical equipment as measures to beat the virus.
Manchester City have also offered the use of their Etihad Stadium to the National Health Service to train doctors and nurses during his crucial time.
Real Madrid have also announced their intention to do the same with their Santiago Bernabeu Stadium as a hub for storing medical supplies.