More social help needed for vulnerable people: Red Cross; Groningen hospital opens coronavirus outpatient clinic

The Red Cross is calling on people in the Netherlands to reach out to vulnerable people around them. According to the aid organization, many people are afraid and need someone to talk to. Meanwhile, the University Medical Center in Groningen (UMCG) is opening an outpatient clinic specifically for patients who may have the coronavirus Covid-19.

According to the Red Cross, it's helpline for people in home quarantine received 5,150 calls since it opened on Monday morning. Many callers said they were worried or sad, or had very practical questions about being confined to the house. The organization is therefore calling on Netherlands residents to reach out to vulnerable people in their environment remotely: give them a call, send them a message, or video call with them.

"We see enormous solidarity. People want to help others en masse," a spokesperson for the Red Cross said to NOS. "Although everyone has to stay at a safe distance form each other, there are plenty of things you can do. Call someone or write a letter. One of the tips that we give is that it is very normal to feel sad, tense, scared or angry during a crisis. Talking to others about his helps."

The Red Cross set up a website with information about the coronavirus, including tips on how to protect yourself.

Groningen coronavirus clinic

The temporary clinic for possible Covid-19 cases is set to open on Thursday at the UMCG. It is intended for people who already have an appointment with another department at the hospital, but have since developed respiratory symptoms that could indicate a coronavirus infection, according to Dagblad van het Noorden.

Those patients will use the new clinic's separate entrance where they will be examined. An investigation will then look into the patients social contacts.

Once cleared by the clinic, they will be allowed to be treated for their original condition.