Posted on Friday, March 27, 2020 at 3:26 p.m.
Our homes are on the front line facing the Covid-19 epidemic. But for the management of these establishments which house nearly 60,000 seniors in Wallonia, we are in a situation of uncertainty.
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According to the secretary general of the Professional Federation of Nursing Homes, it is essential to be able to screen everyone in an institution when a Covid-19 case is detected.
“In Flanders, a large number of the deaths observed come from nursing homes,” says Vincent Frédéricq. “And this Thursday morning, I observe that the number of Brussels establishments affected by the coronavirus has been increasing since the beginning of the week. Staff are becoming more and more afraid. “
This Thursday already, the secretary-general of Femarbel launched an appeal to political decision-makers in our columns. In particular, he wants to allow nursing home workers to be easily tested.
However, in a letter sent this Thursday to Femarbel and other federations by the FPS Public Health at the request of Minister Maggie De Block, the answer is very clear: it’s no.
“Currently, given the limited availability of tests, only people with severe respiratory conditions who need to be hospitalized and caregivers are still subjected to the Covid-19 test,” the post said. “People with respiratory tract infections who do not require hospitalization are no longer tested. We assume that they have the Covid-19. The general practitioner asked them to apply home isolation. However, the nursing staff (for example, doctors and nurses) necessary for care will be tested as a priority in the event of respiratory disorders, so that they can be brought back quickly to care in the event of a negative test. “
For Vincent Frédéricq of Femarbel, this response from the federal authorities not going in the right direction at all. “By the door or by the window, solutions must be found. We really need to measure what is going to happen! The staff are scared and nursing homes are affected by growing absenteeism ”.
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