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The authorities of Lebanon, in the north of Tolima, confirmed that they are 97 positive cases of covid-19 in Hogar San José, which serves 106 older adults in this municipality, many of them, without family. There are 79 infected grandparents and 18 officials.
Sister María Isabel Torres Vargas, director of the Home, also confirmed that, since December 22, when the outbreak began to be identified, seven older adults have died because the coronavirus complicated their health situation, since they all have various comorbidities.
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“Many of the grandparents suffer from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease); they live with colds, suffer from diabetes and the heart, among other serious diseases, added to their advanced age, “said the nun, who is also infected, but without major symptoms.
Sister María Isabel affirmed that throughout the pandemic she has been very rigorous with care and with biosecurity protocols, but the contagion came from an external nurse (there are several inmates who do not leave the establishment). And he regretted the little accompaniment and support he has received from the municipal authorities and the EPS, which could have detected the outbreak in time and prevented it from spreading. Although he appreciates the unconditional support of the Alfonso Jaramillo Salazar Hospital.
He also regrets that the place lacks biosecurity elements. Only until the night of December 31 did a donation of antifluidic suits arrive from the El Gran Porvenir Mine.
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Many of the grandparents have been picked up from the streets and others are interned by their relatives
The Hogar San José has been in operation for about 40 years, in charge of the community of the Little Sisters of the Poor of San Pedro Claver. Many of the grandparents have been picked up from the streets and others are interned by their relatives. It is a decentralized entity of the municipality and works with a limited public budget and with the help of benefactors. It has a rural headquarters in the village of La Trina where, fortunately, the virus has not reached.
Due to the contingency, some grandparents have been removed to be cared for by their relatives and the others are kept in isolation to prevent the virus from reaching the entire population (it is more than 90 percent). Windows have been set up so they can receive visitors.
“I have a very vulnerable population. I don’t know how they haven’t died. I think I have taken good care of them. They are all stable, eating well, separated and scattered throughout the house, ”says the sister, adding that their work has increased because the caregivers and nurses, assigned by the EPS or by some relatives, left the establishment to safeguard your health.
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Some grandparents have been removed to be cared for by their relatives.
Medical attention is being done within the Home and only when the case warrants it is a referral to the hospital. There is currently one person hospitalized and in delicate condition.
That is stated by Diego Padilla, director of emergencies at the hospital, who regrets that the cases of contagion are increasing in this population of about 40 thousand inhabitants. Lebanon ranked 14th at the departmental level (there are 47 municipalities) but it is already 8th. And asylum cases have not been included in the departmental figures, as they take time to update. According to Padilla, there is no availability of ICU beds in Lebanon. The occupancy is already at 100 percent, while in the department it is 80 percent.
(Also read: Only 10 ICU beds for patients with covid-19 remain in Ibagué)
Throughout the department there are 44,138 cases (1,265 deaths and 40,908 recovered).
According to the report as of December 31 from the Tolima Health Secretariat, there are currently 38 active cases of covid-19 in said population. In the entire pandemic, 488 cases have been registered (16 deaths and 434 recovered, plus the 38 active ones). Throughout the department there are 44,138 cases (1,265 deaths and 40,908 recovered).
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However, Padilla adds, the contagion curve tends to increase due to the bad behavior of an important part of the community, which has not complied with the recommendations for social distancing or the use of a mask. Especially in recent times (December 24 and 31). “Things tend to get complicated for the next few weeks and the vaccine is still far away. The recommendation is that we do not lower our guard with self-care ”, warned Padilla.
Sister María Isabel called on the community to donate cleaning supplies for the home (alcohol, gels, detergents and soaps) and for personal use for grandparents; medications such as Azithromycin and face masks. Also non-perishable foods.
Response of the municipal administration
Yamid Mendieta, Planning Secretary with health functions, explained that on December 28 he visited the Home. “I found that the biosecurity protocols were on paper and not in practice”, he claimed.
He also added that he has managed biosafety elements and that he activated a care protocol with the health authorities of the department and with the EPS to face the situation. However, he held that “From the Home the alarms were not turned on in time.”
“On December 29, we held a risk management council in which the mayor, Jesús Antonio Giraldo, ordered that the home should go into quarantine and intervene with our health team about the situation”Added the official.
Jose Alberto Mojica
TIME
Lebanon (Tolima)@joseamojicap
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