Extended nursing home visit ban despite pain

The decision to extend the ban on nursing home visits is accompanied by “much pain and grief,” Prime Minister Mark Rutte acknowledged at the press conference Tuesday night. However, the government believes that it is inevitable that nursing home residents will have to do without their relatives in the coming weeks. Rutte called the extension of the visitation ban to May 20 “necessary to protect our frail elderly as best as possible.”

Nursing homes have only experienced significant Covid-19 outbreaks in the past few weeks. The corona virus managed to penetrate around four out of ten homes. It is possible that more than 6,300 residents are already infected, according to the latest figures from the association of specialists in geriatric medicine Verenso. Hundreds of nursing home residents have already died from the disease: Mortality in nursing homes was double that before the crown crisis earlier this year. The situation in nursing homes remains “very worrying,” Rutte summarized.

Also read: Rutte on relaxing measures: we are at the beginning of the way back

However, last week the discussion erupted over the consequences of the visitation ban for the mostly insane residents of nursing homes. Now the family is only admitted at the last minute if a resident is dying. Alzheimer Nederland argued Tuesday NRC during that period and also allows a permanent caregiver for residents with dementia who are rapidly deteriorating or anxious or panicking. Otherwise, this vulnerable group would ‘languish’ from loneliness.

In nursing homes, the number of infections is not yet under control.

The Cabinet believes that it is too early for such relaxation and follows the advice of the experts of the Outbreak Management Team (OMT). RIVM director of infectious disease control Jaap van Dissel said Tuesday that, in contrast to the rest of the country, nursing homes show that the number of infections is “not flattened”. Therefore, the risks of allowing more visitors are still too great. “We have to get it under control first.”

Verenso, speaking on behalf of doctors who work in nursing homes, agrees. President Nienke Nieuwenhuizen says nursing homes must “remain very careful” until, hopefully, the number of infections drops within a few weeks. She understands the desire to allow visitors again, but calls it “too soon” and “too great a risk.” Nieuwenhuizen emphasizes that nursing homes now have other priorities, such as getting enough protective equipment and having their staff evaluated more quickly. “We just ordered it organizationally.”

Rutte announced that she asked UNWTO for advice on how and when the nursing home visit ban can be relaxed. Verenso hopes that this will be possible from May 20. Pilot tests will be held at various nursing homes in the coming weeks, which will include examining whether visitors need to be evaluated and how it can be organized. Nieuwenhuizen requires a little patience when it comes to relaxing the visitor’s outline. “But as soon as we can, we will.”

What remains the same: no events, hairdressers and cafes

The ban on events, such as music festivals, trade shows and professional soccer, has been extended for three months until September 1. It means “no Pinkpop, no four-day Marches, no Black Cross,” said Rutte. “It also means: there is definitely no professional football until September 1. And yes, that is sour,” said the prime minister.

Hairdressers and other contact professions, such as masseurs and beauty salons, also cannot work until at least May 20. The uncertainties are too great, according to Rutte. Dentists and dental hygienists can work – they are closed.

Cafes, restaurants, cinemas and museums will also be closed for three more weeks. Catering companies would do well to consider how they will be able to reopen under the 1.5 meter rule, but according to the prime minister, it is not possible for them to reopen as soon as they can comply with those rules.

The basic rules remain the same: work at home as much as possible, stay at home as much as possible, and stay one and a half meters away from people who are not housemates. Those who are on the street with more than two non-housemates and do not follow the distance rules can be fined. “Caution now is better than regretting it later.”