Internal vaccination campaign draws to a closeNew rules and recommendations for retirement and nursery homes

“We hope to be finished with the second dose by 25 March,” Minister for Family Affairs Corinne Cahen announced at the beginning of February. One month later, the vaccination campaign in retirement and nursery homes has made good progress and the goal of completing it by the end of March seems within reach.

This does of course raise a new question: What does this mean for the vaccinated elderly and their relatives?

In a reply to a parliamentary question by MPs Mars di Bartolomeo and Georges Engel from the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), Cahen gives details of what will and will not be allowed in these facilities. Here are the main points:

• Room visits are allowed following the administration of the second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and an additional 14 day waiting period;
• Registration of visitors is strongly advised for possible tracing after an infection has been detected;
• Codes for PCR and/or rapid antigen tests are offered to visitors before visits;
• The number of visitors admitted, and the opening of restaurants and cafeterias is managed according to the legislative provisions in force (Covid-19 law);
• Vaccinated persons (second dose and additional 14-day waiting period) must not be quarantined after leaving the facility, except in the event of symptoms suggestive of a possible SarsCov-2 infection;
• It is also to be remembered that the vaccine protects against Covid-19, without necessarily eliminating transmission of the virus, and that even after vaccination, managers are required to enforce the application of protective measures.

The Minister also reiterates the main recommendations for residents, their relatives, staff, and administrations of these accommodation facilities.

Recap of the main recommendations

Residents and their families

• Do not visit if you are ill, have symptoms indicative of a Covid-19 infection, or have had risky contact; with a person with a recent confirmed infection;
• Maintain an interpersonal distance of at least 2 metres and wear a mask. A surgical or FFP2 mask should be worn instead of a home-made mask;
• Wash hands with soap and water before and after the visit. Alternatively, hand sanitiser can be used;
• Follow the instructions of the management of the various facilities;
• Participate regularly and systematically in screening for infection (by invitation, or by the LST mobile team using antigen tests);
• Take up invitations for vaccination

Staff (including subcontractors):

• Strictly observe the protective measures at all times;
• Systematically wear a surgical mask or preferably an FFP2 mask while working on the premises of a retirement or nursery home;
• Always pay particular attention to rigorous hand hygiene (wash or disinfect hands regularly);
• Participate regularly and systematically in screening for infection (on invitation by the LST mobile team if possible, by antigenic test);
• Take up invitations for vaccination

Management:

• Make residents and their families aware of the protective measures that apply even after they have been vaccinated;
• Make residents, their families, and staff aware of the need to systematically participate in the tests offered to them;
• Provide visitors with codes to perform PCR tests prior to visits, in which case it is recommended that these tests be performed within 72 hours prior to visits;
• Use antigen tests according to the recommendations in force;
• Make residents, their families, and staff aware of the need to participate in vaccination as soon as they are invited