People in Luxembourg who suspect they have caught coronavirus COVID-19 should not go see their GP or go to the emergency room. Instead, they should contact the Sanitary Inspection Unit at 24 78 56 50 (weekdays only), the special hotline 8002 - 8080, or call 112 at weekends. However, it appears not everybody has taken note of the guidelines.
Minister of Health Paulette Lenert provided a response to an urgent parliamentary question submitted by CSV MP Jean-Marie Halsdorf, confirming that there was a case in which someone returning from a risk region did not follow the above instructions. The person, who had returned from South Korea went to the CHL in Luxembourg City for testing.
The hospital authorities sent the person back home to follow the correct procedures, but the individual in question did not report themselves to the Sanitary Inspection Unit. Instead, they contacted their general practitioner over the phone.
The practice first contacted the CHL and then the Sanitary Inspection Unit. The person was contacted by the latter at their workplace and was tested the same day. Ultimately, the test turned out negative.
LINK: Coronavirus information on government websiteGeneral practitioners have highlighted that they have not received any guidelines on how to react if a patient at their practice might have COVID-19. Doctors have reiterated this after a first confirmed case in Luxembourg was announced over the weekend.
Broadly, however, doctors have noticed a significant uptick in fear amongst the public. GP Marc Trierweiler explained that at the beginning, people tended to playfully refer to the virus. Someone with a cold would say 'Surely I don't have that Chinese virus', but once more cases began occurring outside of China, concerns increased.
Dr Trierweiler especially noticed an increase in fear after the weekend, reporting that he arrived to work to a number of emails written over the weekend. His practice was also subject to a significant amount of phone calls. Broadly, Dr Trierweiler described the population as being somewhat panicked at the current time: "Every time someone sees a cold, cough, or fever, everyone else is worried it's coronavirus'."
So far, Dr Trierweiler has had to advise two patients to call the Sanitary Inspection Unit. Both people had returned from Italy and had symptoms of a virus. However, they both tested negative.
Stephanie Obertin, president of the Circle of General Practitioners, deplored that GPs have not received special guidance, in contrast to the population and hospitals. She highlighted that doctors do not have guidelines in the event of someone sitting in their waiting room who might be infected with coronavirus. While the GP would naturally contact the Sanitary Inspection Unit, there remain a number of other questions on procedures.
As Dr Trierweiler said, "What do we do with the waiting room in which the person was sitting? The problem isn't about treating the patient, but more about what happens after [reporting to the Sanitary Inspection Unit]? Were there other patients in the waiting room? What do we with the patient until the Sanitary Inspection Unit arrives? Do we have to isolate them? So far, we have to do what we think best. The Ministry of Health has not given us clear guidance on how to act."
Obertin said that she had contacted the ministry on Friday evening in order to clarify concerns, but has yet to receive an answer.
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