The institutions for the elderly have urged their residents not to go out for the holidays. Otherwise, on the way back, it’s isolation.
The elderly go out, whether they live in a retirement home or still at home. You only have to observe them in the supermarket aisles to understand that they have this need to feel free.
Grandparents are sure to be on the roads on New Years Eve as a household allowed to visit relatives. The slogan of urging people not to go out for the holidays is general, but the message is even stronger in nursing homes.
The subject of restrictions in institutions for the elderly and the health measures deployed there was once again briefly debated in the Chamber of Deputies and it was Marc Spautz (CSV) who wanted to obtain answers from the Minister of Families , Corinne Cahen.
Retirement homes are free to organize themselves as they see fit as long as the sanitary rules are respected. “I called almost all the establishments to find out how they were going to proceed for the holidays and circulars were issued to warn the residents that they will be placed in quarantine for 7 days if they decide to leave”, relates Marc Spautz, who always has a thought for “those who participated in building the country”.
The deputy admits that it is not easy to choose between freedom and health and that it is a delicate “balancing act”, but he is worried about this deprivation of liberty imposed on those who return from the outside and also from the warning of the directors who implore their residents not to leave the establishments.
“If the elderly spend Christmas with their loved ones, they are guaranteed to spend New Year’s Eve in their room since they will be in isolation for seven days,” laments the deputy. He also wonders about the impact of rapid tests for visits.
Extended hours
The minister was also able to meet with institutions for the elderly and confirms to deputies that the majority of them have asked their residents not to go to their families for the end of year celebrations. “But as no one can be locked up, it was decided to quarantine those who prefer to go out, because it is a question of protecting an entire community,” recalls Corinne Cahen.
She took the opportunity to push a rant against those who visit residents while avoiding the mask. “The number of infections remains high and I can tell you that when the virus enters a nursing home, it spreads quickly and wreaks havoc. Not only are residents infected, but staff as well, ”insists the Minister of Families.
Corinne Cahen further explains that the establishments which have decided to place their residents in quarantine have also considerably extended the time slots for visits during the end of the year holidays. “Visitors will need to register beforehand because they won’t be able to come by unexpectedly. It is necessary to organize the disinfection of the premises at each passage, ”adds the Minister.
“We all agree that every death related to Covid-19 is one death too many and that no one in this country wants to have a death on their conscience. So yes, it’s a balancing act between freedom and security, ”admits Corinne Cahen.
As for the rapid tests, they do not exempt from wearing the mask, further recalls the minister. “All that is asked of people in these difficult times is to protect themselves and others by wearing the mask and respecting the distances.”
She quotes a passage from a press article published in a German weekly newspaper in which everyone is advised to consider themselves asymptomatic positive for Covid-19. “Then ask yourself if it is really necessary to see each other around a table and to eat together while taking risks or if we can be satisfied with seeing each other from a distance with a mask”, concludes the Minister.
Genevieve Montaigu
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