For the end-of-year celebrations, the ministry in charge of Autonomy wants to “protect seniors without isolating them”. Details on certain relaxations and clarifications on the rules which will be in force from December 15.
- Outings will be facilitated but with tests on return to the establishment
- The number of simultaneous visitors will be expanded
If with the return of the curfew at 8 p.m. this time and especially its maintenance for the evening of December 31, the government has rather chosen extreme caution to lay down the health rules that will apply for the end-of-year celebrations , for nursing home residents and their families, Christmas and New Year’s Day will be synonymous with a little more freedom.
In a press release released on Saturday December 12, the Minister in charge of Autonomy, Brigitte Bourguignon, announced her recommendations for a certain relaxation from December 15 of the health protocol until the end of this holiday period. “Protecting seniors without isolating them” is the principle laid down by the minister.
Easier outings but tests on the way back
The outings of people accommodated in Ehpad will thus, “exceptionally”, be facilitated in order to be able to spend time with their families. But this will be accompanied by new precautions and obligations: precaution for relatives who are obviously invited to ensure compliance with barrier gestures and “strongly encouraged” to carry out a PCR or antigen test before receiving an elderly person at home, the obligation for nursing home residents to do a PCR or antigen test on their return to the establishment. They will not be able, moreover, to participate in collective activities in the establishments during the 7 days following their return after an outing.
More allowed visitors
Regarding visits by relatives in nursing homes, the ministry recommends rules to make them “more user-friendly”: an increase in the number of simultaneous visitors “can be considered” but without the ministry including more precise indications and the duration of the beaches Appointment times to carry out these visits should be extended.
The press release from the Ministry in charge of Autonomy adds that nursing homes are “encouraged” to organize collective activities, whether inside or outside the establishments, such as the participation of residents in religious services.
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