Cahen announced that her Ministry is currently working alongside the National Health Directorate on new guidelines for retirement and nursing homes, which she will present over the next two weeks. According to the Minister, the “new circumstances” must be taken into consideration. This includes the interaction with vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals as well as the quarantine rules for new residents, she explained.
The large majority of residents are vaccinated, and her Ministry is currently only aware of one “potential infection” in a home, Cahen stated, adding that the vaccines have a noticeable effect. The Superior Council of Infectious Diseases is currently working on an official recommendation regarding a booster shot for the elderly. According to the Minister, a booster shot should particularly be considered in facilities where residents show a low level of antibodies. Vulnerable individuals must be protected “as well as possible” from the next wave, Cahen stressed, adding that PCR tests will continue to be offered in retirement and nursing homes over the next months.
The Minister continues to reject any and all criticism regarding her past handling of the situation, stating that she has been in touch with those in charge of the country’s homes and that she stands by her position that not all facilities can be treated the same way.
When asked about the vaccination rate among staff in retirement and nursing homes, Cahen stated that she does not have the latest figures yet. She pointed out that people still spontaneously decide to get vaccinated, for instance by making use of one of the mobile vaccination units (Impfbus).
It is difficult to determine the percentage of vaccinated staff members in the care sector, the Minister explained, since a large part does not live in Luxembourg. However, the rate is definitely above 65%, Cahen added. So far, managers in the Grand Duchy also do not have the legal right to ask their employees whether they are vaccinated or not.
The government wants to continue its efforts to convince people to get the jab, which does, however, require a lot of convincing, Cahen acknowledged. She herself cannot see any reason why someone would choose not to get vaccinated, the Minister stated. Especially not, if that person works in the healthcare sector. Cahen also rejects the argument that refusing the vaccine is an act of “personal freedom”, pointing out that living with all of these restrictions is surely the opposite of freedom. Instead, getting the vaccine is “an act of solidarity”, the Minister stressed, adding that all of the products authorised by the European Medicines Agency can be trusted.
