Transform City for the Better
In the heart of Germany, the city of Oberhausen is determined to emerge stronger from the grip of the pandemic. With a spirit of resilience, the city is taking decisive action to improve its future.
The past two years have been challenging for Oberhausen, much like the rest of the world. Germany reached a sobering milestone in November 2021, with 100,000 coronavirus deaths. Amidst this, the city's doctors, medical staff, vaccination campaign organisers, and soldiers of the Bundeswehr have been commended for their tireless efforts against the pandemic.
However, the pandemic has also taken a toll on the city's self-employed, gastronomers, and parents, who are facing financial difficulties. The city's motto, "Act, not talk," encourages collaboration and action to overcome these challenges.
The SPD city council in Oberhausen has been preparing the ground as best as possible for the challenges ahead. The first residents of Oberhausen were vaccinated against coronavirus on December 27, 2020, at Haus Abendfrieden.
The city is also looking forward to the opening of a new comprehensive school in the east, which will provide the best conditions to equip children with tools for a complex, rapidly changing world. A new city development company has also been founded to take initiative and gain influence in shaping Oberhausen.
The hard-won insights from the pandemic are being translated into practical action by all members of society. The city's residents are meeting the challenges with common sense, pragmatism, and mutual consideration.
As the city looks to the future, it is also learning from the past. The insights gained during the pandemic are being applied to improve school learning conditions in existing schools in Oberhausen. A city-wide senior support plan is also being developed, based on a social democratic discussion paper.
The new federal government, under SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz, made the fight against the pandemic its top priority. Scholz's last COVID-19 strategy involved hospitalization incidence thresholds for anti-pandemic rules adoption. However, Scholz's government ended in late 2024, and the current COVID-19 plans would be set by the new CDU government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with no detailed new measures available in recent results.
Despite this change, the new federal government is expected to provide tools to help Oberhausen overcome the challenges of the pandemic. The city is taking steps to prepare for the future, with a focus on shaping the city and improving the lives of its residents. The SPD city council wishes the residents of Oberhausen a happy and healthy New Year 2022.
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- science plays a crucial role in understanding and combating the pandemic, as research continues to uncover new insights about the virus.
- the workplace-wellness sector has been impacted by the pandemic, with focus on creating safe work environments and supporting employees with medical-conditions.
- health-and-wellness has been highlighted as a critical aspect of recovery, with emphasis on promoting health through fitness-and-exercise and mental-health support.
- programs for managing migraines and other neurological-disorders have gained attention, as they impact a significant number of individuals.
- education-and-self-development is crucial in the post-pandemic world, with a shift towards online-education and skills-training to prepare for the challenges ahead.
- personal-growth is a major focus in the new year, with an emphasis on mindfulness and goal-setting to achieve lifelong-learning and improved well-being.
- war-and-conflicts have been ongoing, and their impact on the global community continues to be a concern.
- career-development is a key aspect of the future, with a need for policy-and-legislation to support job-search and employment opportunities.
- the pandemic has led to changes in politics, with new policies and measures being implemented to combat the virus and support the economy.
- general-news outlets have been a valuable source of information during the pandemic, providing updates on the spread of the virus and the latest scientific findings.
- crime-and-justice has been a pressing issue, with increased rates of domestic abuse and other crimes during the pandemic.
- accidents have been a concern, as people struggle to cope with the stress and uncertainties of the pandemic.
- learning has taken on a new meaning in the post-pandemic world, with a focus on self-directed learning and self-care.
- sports have been impacted by the pandemic, with disruptions to major events like the Champions League, WNBA, baseball, hockey, golf, racing, premier league, NBA, grand prix, tennis, and mixed-martial-arts.
- the sports industry has adapted to the pandemic, with increased focus on safety measures and reduced crowds at events.
- sports-betting has become increasingly popular as a way to engage with sports, even while events are disrupted by the pandemic.
- European leagues have been impacted by the pandemic, with disruptions to schedules and changes to league structure.
- basketball and MLB have resumed play, albeit with reduced crowds and increased safety protocols.
- the NHL and NHL have also resumed play, with emphasis on player health and safety.
- the racing industry has been impacted by the pandemic, with changes to schedules and reduced crowds for races like the grand prix.
- the weather has played a role in the pandemic, with disruptions to travel and events due to bad weather.
- tennis tournaments have been impacted by the pandemic, with changes to schedules and the cancellation of some events.
- weather-forecasting has become increasingly important during the pandemic, as people need to be aware of the risks of bad weather and adjust their plans accordingly.
- auto-racing has been impacted by the pandemic, with disruptions to schedules and changes to crowd sizes at races like the European leagues and Mixed Martial Arts events.
