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Almost 790,000 people in this country are currently sharing the same fate: They are under quarantine.

At least that's what the figures from the independent think tank Risklayer show based on information from the authorities.

The health authorities order strict isolation in their home for everyone who has had close contact with a person infected with corona or who may have infected themselves.

That means: no exit, no visits, no contacts.

And usually for 14 days.

Even people with cold symptoms are now recommended by the federal government to voluntarily go into isolation at home.

For many German citizens, voluntary self-quarantine is becoming a realistic scenario even in the days before Christmas.

In order to enjoy the party with relatives in a somewhat relaxed manner, isolation is recommended here as well in order to reduce the risk of infection.

Therefore, the Christmas holidays nationwide should start on December 16.

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So it looks like the quarantine will be a constant companion for millions of German citizens in the next few weeks.

This presents those affected with completely new everyday challenges.

How can the purchase be done?

Who will take care of the dog?

And what happens if quarantine is only prescribed for the children?

With these tips you can keep your household going despite the quarantine.

This is how it works with purchasing

Just a quick trip to the supermarket?

This is fundamentally prohibited for people in a prescribed quarantine.

There may be isolated local exceptions for first aid.

But most of them have to get their food in other ways.

For those who can't bring in friends or neighbors, grocery delivery services should be the solution.

Most providers now have a full range and can deliver contactlessly on request.

The drivers then park the purchases on the doorstep.

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However, the service is reflected in the price.

At the beginning of the month, “Ökotest” took a close look at the eight most important delivery services - including those of the supermarket chains, but also Amazon Fresh and the Picnic app.

Source: Getty;

Infographic WORLD

A sample shopping cart used by the testers was on average around 17 percent more expensive than in stationary retail.

This is where the fresh products, which have to be cooled or transported more elaborately, are particularly reflected.

The Edeka service Bringmeister, Rewe and Picnic performed best in the test.

Hoarding goods is difficult with delivery services.

In general, they only dispense quantities that are customary in households.

If in doubt, isolated people have to place an online order several times.

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In addition, delivery services are currently only available in large cities such as Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, as well as occasionally in selected areas.

Those who live in the countryside have to resort to providers who deliver their goods by parcel service, such as Netto-Online.

The disadvantage: you only send long-life food.

Not only supermarkets want to supply their customers with delivery services in the Corona crisis.

Start-ups like Hellofresh send out cooking boxes with coordinated ingredients and recipes.

The large drugstore chains also have their own shipping services.

And the corona crisis is currently making an unexpected comeback for frozen food suppliers like Bofrost.

Anyone who is in quarantine should, however, take care before the last supplies run out.

Some services refer to longer delivery times due to the high demand.

Experts recommend these supplies

The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (BBK) lists which foods people should have on their kitchen shelves who have to survive ten days without shopping.

In addition to 20 liters of water per person, the authority advises about three and a half kilograms of cereal products and potatoes as well as four kilograms of vegetables and legumes.

The BBK also recommends two and a half kilograms of fruit - albeit in cans or glasses, as fresh fruit can only be stored for a limited time.

Likewise, according to the disaster relief agencies, long-life dairy products, fish and meat as well as fats and oils belong in a good supply.

Source: WORLD infographic

The medicine cabinet must also be able to serve for small emergencies.

For first aid in the event of injuries, sufficient bandages such as plasters and wound disinfectants should be available, recommends the health insurance company AOK.

There are also ointments and medicines.

In addition to the individual medication, consumers should have digestive drugs as well as fever and pain relievers at home.

If you have to fill your medicine cabinet at short notice, you will find it at various online pharmacies.

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But beware of rumors: In the social networks there are repeated reports about means that are supposed to alleviate or worsen the corona processes.

The last time there was confusion was the pain reliever ibuprofen.

In the spring, the news spread via WhatsApp that the drug could worsen the course of Covid disease.

However, medical professionals and drug authorities state that there is no evidence to date for such a connection.

If you are unsure, you should consult your family doctor.

When choosing a disinfectant, consumers should pay particular attention to the fine print.

Because not every agent also kills coronaviruses.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recommends using disinfections with the effect range “limited virucidal”, “limited virucidal plus” or “virucidal”.

The authority has published a list of suitable resources on its website.

Initiatives support you in getting things done

Quarantined people don't just have to get creative with the supply of food.

As a rule, they are also not allowed to leave their apartment for other everyday corridors - for example to go to the mailbox or to dispose of the rubbish.

Numerous neighborhood aids have been set up in recent months for such activities.

The “We against Corona” platform, for example, provides volunteers with people who need support in everyday life.

Affected persons and volunteers can register online and are assigned to one another depending on where they live.

The “Nebenan.de” portal works like a digital bulletin board, on which neighbors who live within a ten-minute walk can find each other for Corona support.

And the online initiative “Quarantine Heroes” also provides helpers to people in quarantine.

Almost 40,000 volunteers across Germany have registered on the portal.

When children have to go into isolation

Classes are quarantined, schools closed: This causes care problems for many parents, even if they are not in quarantine themselves.

"In principle, the duty to work continues," says Till Bender, legal protection secretary at the German Trade Union Federation (DGB).

Only in special exceptional situations in which it is simply unreasonable for parents to leave their children alone can the duty to work be omitted.

"In principle, however, there is no entitlement to payment," says Bender.

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The Infection Protection Act has been an exception since the summer.

Those who cannot do their work as usual due to closed daycare centers and schools are entitled to 67 percent of the net income - albeit limited to a monthly amount of 2016 euros.

Another prerequisite is that there is an official closure of facilities and that there are no other care options.

The care must also have led to a loss of earnings - for example because it was not possible to work in the home office.

In addition: the child must not be older than twelve years.

If, on the other hand, the child is on sick leave and needs to be looked after, parents are usually entitled to short-term leave.

In addition, those with statutory health insurance can usually apply for so-called child sickness benefit.

The federal government has extended the claim period due to the corona pandemic once.

So far, parents have been granted ten days each and single parents 20 days of childhood illness.

This year, however, parents and single parents are paid 30 days.

Rules for dog owners

Dog owners must stay in the apartment during quarantine - but dogs do not.

The Friedrich-Löffler-Institut points out that according to previous knowledge, pets do not play a role in the spread of the coronavirus.

In addition, dogs need their daily exercise.

The veterinary offices therefore recommend organizing substitute care in the family, neighborhood or among friends.

In many places there are also so-called dog walker services.

Dog lovers offer their help on various portals.

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If there are no volunteers nearby, there is still a boarding house.

Many institutions are currently even taking the animals at cost.

Because the pensions themselves are suffering from the pandemic and are grateful for every customer.

After all, because of the short-time work or in the home office, owners have more time to look after their animals themselves.

Christin Werner, for example, head of the Potsdam dog boarding house, has therefore created a special Corona aid offer for dog owners in quarantine.

She offers a pick-up service for dogs from quarantine households and keeps the animals with her during the quarantine period.

But the owners in quarantine are still finding it difficult to hand over their dog.

"Although we communicate the offer as well as possible," says Werner, "not many dog ​​owners have noticed it yet."