Social services from 4 May – a cautious opening

At the beginning of March, a decision was made to temporarily close the facilities of the City of Hafnarfjörður that provide services and activities for people who are in a vulnerable position or have underlying health conditions. In light of the easing of restrictions from 4 May, the municipality will take safe and cautious steps towards reopening its services. All relevant parties are currently being informed.

During the Covid-19 pandemic and the current lockdown, all other services of the Family and Child Services Department have remained uninterrupted, such as home care, support services, and services in residential units and households. Certain adjustments and adaptations were made to the service, which in some cases will continue for the coming weeks or until further easing of restrictions is announced. Overall, the accompanying guidance remains in effect for all those the service provides for, and if a cluster of infection arises, the relevant group will be placed in quarantine.

A participant may not access the service if:

• I am in quarantine.
• Is in isolation (also while awaiting test results).
• Has been in isolation due to a COVID-19 infection and it has not been 14 days since discharge.
• Has symptoms (a cold, cough, fever, headache, bone pain, fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, etc.).

Social activities for senior citizens, canteen and home help 

• Hraunsel. The schedule for Hraunsel will be released next week. The schedule will be advertised to members, and registrations for groups are requested to comply with the guidelines on a 20-person maximum and the two-metre rule.
• Hjallabraut and Sólvangsvegur – social activities. The senior citizens' centres at Hjallabraut 33 and Sólvangsvegur 1 will not be opening on 4 May.
• Hjallabraut and Sólvangsvegur – canteen. The senior citizens' canteens at Hjallabraut 33 and Sólvangsvegur 1 will not be opening on 4 May. Meal deliveries will also continue to be available, as they have been for the past few weeks.
• Home care service. Home care will continue as normal. Telephone calls and tablet visits will continue.

Short stay 

• Short-stay facilities will open on 4 May but will continue to operate with a modified format in May due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Service users will be divided into infection control groups and moving between groups will not be permitted.
• Nutmeg. The short-stay accommodation at Hnotuberg will be open to everyone in May, but with a revised arrangement. Due to quarantine groups, users will be allocated different and fewer days than was announced at the start of the year.
• You may only attend on the days allocated to you – you may not attend other groups.

Work and activity-oriented support for disabled people

• The employment and activation services will open on 4 May but will operate with a modified arrangement in May due to Covid-19. In most cases, services will be limited.
• Service users will be divided into infection control groups and moving between groups will not be permitted.
• Operations of the Training Centre at Bæjarhrauni will be operating with a modified format. Due to social distancing requirements, users will be allocated different times than usual. The duration of sessions is also reduced to allow for disinfection between groups.

• The activities of Geitungar, employment training will be in a modified format. Due to public health measures, in some cases the amount of time for the service is reduced.
• The activities of Vinaskjóls, will initially be for half the day and service users will be divided into infection control groups.
• You may only attend at your allocated time – you may not attend other groups.

The Stream – a sanctuary

• The Work of the Doctor will be restricted in May due to Covid-19. Visitors will be divided into infection control groups in collaboration with the director and assigned specific days.
• To be allocated a day at the shelter in May, you need to choose one of the following options: 1) phone 585-5770, 2) send a message on the group's Facebook page, „Lækur athvarf Hafnarfirði“, or 3) send an email to athvarflaekur@gmail.com

Visits permitted at Sólvang and Hrafnista

• The visiting ban at the nursing home Sólvangur has been lifted, but with the condition that only one relative is permitted to visit and must book in advance. 
• At Hrafnista in Hafnarfjörður, each resident can have a one-hour visit, and that will be the case for at least the first two weeks following the initial easing of restrictions. 
• All precautions will continue to be taken, with hand sanitising and an escort from the front door to the household.
• Day care at Hrafnista and day training at Drafnarhús is open. 

Collaboration to maintain success!  Thank you for your positivity and good cooperation so far!

With these changes now coming into effect, it is vital that everyone plays an active part in maintaining the success achieved in stopping the coronavirus pandemic. We thank you for your positivity towards the restrictions that had to be put in place in March and hope that this change to normal, routine operations is here to stay.