Residential care centers will receive rapid tests with which they can test visitors for the corona virus from Monday. The test is not compulsory and those who refuse should not be refused entry to the nursing home.
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The rapid tests are now possible in our country a third wave is imminent. “Residential care centers can thus build in extra security to keep the virus out,” says the Agency for Care and Health.
Specifically, the test is offered to visitors. For the sake of clarity, they are not required to be tested. Due to its voluntary nature, those who refuse access to the rest home cannot be prohibited.
Those who are tested positive “will not be given access to the residential care center.” Anyone who tests negative will still have to strictly observe the applicable prevention measures during the visit.
The government hopes that the rapid tests will prevent residential care centers from reaching the drastic decision to ban all visits if infections occur in the immediate region. “We see that there are still residential care centers where visitors are not allowed, which cannot be the intention,” regrets Flemish Minister of Welfare Wouter Beke (CD&V). “When there is no outbreak, visitors should always be allowed.”
Incidentally, the situation in residential care centers is evolving favorably: according to the most recent figures from health institute Sciensano, there are still corona outbreaks with at least 10 infections in only 6 percent of Flemish residential care centers. 80 percent of the residents, and just under 60 percent of the staff, have now received a first dose of the vaccine. (wer)
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