“Visits are a possibility, not an obligation”

Visits to nursing homes are a possibility not an obligation, said Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès Wednesday evening in the newspaper spoken of the VTM chain, commenting on the decisions previously announced at the Security Council. “Visits are a possibility, not an obligation,” she said.

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Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon (N-VA), also present in the studio, acknowledged that the decision to resume visits, one person at a time per resident, had been taken without consultation with the sector.

This consultation on how things should unfold will take place in the coming days or weeks, according to the former federal minister. “It is not the intention to let infected people into nursing homes,” he said, adding that the measure concerns people who have been isolated for four weeks.

The president of the federation of rest homes (Femarbel), Marc Verbruggen, judged the authorities’ decision to allow residents living in rest homes to again receive visits from a loved one, “risky” while the sector faces a lack of resources and a high risk of spreading the virus. The decision, however, is “humanly understandable,” according to the organization.

Later than Monday

The implementation of the resumption of visits to nursing homes, announced Wednesday after the National Security Council, will be “concerted with the actresses and actors in the field, as soon as possible,” assured the Brussels Minister for Health, Alain Maron, on Twitter. “Listening and flexibility will be essential,” he said.

“The resumption of visits (under very strict conditions) to nursing homes will bring hope and life to many residents,” added the Brussels minister.

Questioned by Belga, Mr. Maron said that an order would be made in this direction, by Monday. “But the implementation will come later”, he added, insisting on the consultation that will be conducted on this subject with the sector and with the federated entities concerned.

The Prime Minister has announced that residents living in nursing homes or centers for the disabled will again be able to receive visits from a loved one, to alleviate the psychological distress caused by isolation, starting next Monday.

This announcement has been greeted coldly by the sector, which is currently trying as best it can to keep its head above water in the face of the ravages of the pandemic in many Rest Homes, among residents, such as staff who work in reduced numbers. .

The Flemish Minister for Welfare, Wouter Beke, has already called for a postponement of this measure, in Flanders, in order to prepare it well in concert and to apply it “in a thoughtful manner”.

The general containment measures currently in force will be extended until May 3 to fight against the spread of Covid-19, was decided at the National Security Council.

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