To date, 846 Covid-19 infections and 125 deaths have been recorded in institutions for the elderly, with three more deaths only recently being reported, said Minister for Family Affairs Corinne Cahen on Tuesday afternoon during a news hour devoted to the situation in nursery homes and care structures for the disabled. The discussion had been requested by the Christian Social People's Party (CSV).
So far, 700 cases have been counted among the staff of these facilities. There are currently 20 infections in facilities for people with disabilities.
Cahen stated that people had learned to live with the virus, even if everything was not perfect, and could not be perfect. Today, the facilities had sufficient supplies of oxygen equipment and the necessary pharmaceuticals, for example. Cahen pointed out that there were also many people who had tested positive among senior citizens, who were not ill. Unlike in the spring, a level system has now been set up to define when and to what extent visits to nursery homes are possible.
Minister of Health Paulette Lenert stressed that mobile teams had been at work since the beginning of November to fully screen the entirety of Luxembourg's nursing homes. 23 establishments had already been tested in their entirety. There had been 14 additional interventions, for example, when a cluster emerged. The rapid tests, which will be available as of this weekend, will also be used to screen those intending to visit a nursery home. They are not recommended for people over 65.
The aim is to ensure maximum protection in these facilities while maintaining human contact.
