In front of the deterioration of the situation in an increasing number of nursing homes , Wallonia has decided to request support from the army and civil protection. It is also launching an appeal to all medical and paramedical staff in hospitals, medical houses, mutual societies, school medicine, PMS, Inami, etc. available to help the teams in place in these institutions, said Wednesday evening the spokeswoman for the Walloon Minister of Health Christie Morreale (PS).
According to the latter, these measures are justified by the urgency of the situation in this sector which “requires major measures“. According to Minister Morreale, there are currently 116 Walloon nursing homes with a Covid-19 cluster in their midst (ten or more coronavirus cases) out of a total of 600.
We also counted, from all causes, 378 deaths since just before March 25. “Many measures have already been taken, but the scale and speed of the spread of the virus justifies that additional devices must be put in place immediately for our seniors, for our families, for our caregivers. Everything must be done to limit the contagion and save a maximum of lives“said Minister Morreale through her spokesperson.
General mobilization
The Minister of Health therefore called for a general mobilization for nursing homes facing coronavirus clusters or in severe shortage of staff. The Walloon Region therefore asks all medical and paramedical staff in hospitals, medical houses, mutual societies, school medicine, PMS, Inami, etc. available to help the teams in place.
Various ministerial meetings have taken place on the subject and will resume Thursday morning in this “race against time“who is committed. The operation is carried out in collaboration with MSF, the Red Cross, the medical centers, AVIQ and Doctors of the world.
A hundred people should be active by the end of this week, according to spokesperson for Morreale. Still according to the spokesperson, these mobile teams would come as reinforcements to nursing homes facing the pandemic and / or lack of staff.
More immediately, the Walloon Region is asking for support from the army and civil protection. A meeting with the five provincial governors was organized late Wednesday to activate this emergency logistics. This should allow, in the immediate future, to top up in nursing homes where this is necessary, in the areas of catering, cohorting residents according to their state of health, and disinfecting the premises.
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