Coronavirus: Vaud reorganizes social assistance and “shrink” – Vaud & Régions

The virus does not only cause a health crisis, but also an economic one with its social consequences. On Wednesday, during its three-weekly press briefing, the Council of State presented the measures taken in this sector. “In a few days we have reorganized the entire social system available to the population,” said State Councilor Rebecca Ruiz.

This reorganization must make it possible to continue to pay individual financial aid to the people who are entitled to it. But it also aims to ensure that new beneficiaries can obtain the benefit despite the particular circumstances, since it is no longer possible to go to the counter.

No major changes

“The current beneficiaries will continue to receive the benefits to which they are entitled without major change,” said Fabrice Ghelfi, director general of social action. State employees, who have been teleworked, follow the files.

For people in financial emergency, it is the integration income which comes into play to ensure the subsistence minimum. To access this service, you must turn to the Regional Social Centers which are “the gateway”. Their contact details are available from the Municipality or on the website of the State of Vaud.

Psychological cell

“Time is passing, people are confined to their homes, and people are feeling anxious,” said State Councilor Rebecca Ruiz. You can see it at the hotlines. A psychological unit, managed by the General Directorate of Health, must come to reinforce the usual structures to adapt the services to the circumstances and to cope with an increase in requests.

Yves Froté, cantonal coordinator of psychological emergency aid, recognizes that “the measures taken to overcome the epidemic are challenges for many cases in the field of psychiatry”. Psychological support for the health hotline has been in place since last Friday. There has also been an increase in calls for referral to the central medical office.

More sick people and fewer cars

Click on the image to enlarge (infographic: Philippe Forney)

On the front line of the pandemic, the cantonal doctor, Karim Boubaker, observes that “a good majority of the positive cases are young people who will, for the most part, have a mild illness”. A quarter of the cases are people over 65 years of age. There are currently 44 people in intensive care.

“With the increase in cases, we are starting to have a few hospital and intensive care patients who are younger people with or without risk factors,” said the doctor. The vast majority of patients are hospitalized at the CHUV. On Wednesday, the University Hospital Center received protective masks from the Confederation, via the army. This allows to see coming for a week, according to Karim Boubaker, “but we are still in a situation of shortage”.

If the hospitals fill up, the roads empty. On the A1 motorway section between Morges and Écublens, the daily number of vehicles fell from 96,000 on March 3 to 34,250 on March 24, a decrease of 64%. “The population is playing the game, it is following the recommendations,” said the chief of the cantonal driving staff, Denis Froidevaux.

Created: 25.03.2020, 21h57

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