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On Thursday, the ban on visiting nursing homes and nursing homes, which was introduced on April 1, was lifted, a message that has been received with mixed reactions from regions and municipalities.
A small number of municipalities have chosen to oppose the decision and extend the visit ban to varying degrees, some of which, according to SVT News: Askersund, Bollebygd, Västervik, Ludvika and Leksand.
Both the Swedish Public Health Agency and the National Board of Health and Welfare announced during today’s press conference that they believe that municipalities are acting outside the law.
– They are adults who live in their own home and there is no legal basis that prevents them from receiving visits, you can act the same as for all other people in the risk group in society that you can encourage and facilitate in various ways that you follow the recommendations said Thomas Lindén, department head of the National Board of Health and Social Welfare during the press conference.
For DN develops Bitte Bråstad, Legal Adviser to the Public Health Agency, explains why local visit bans are not allowed.
– Freedom of movement and the right to family life are constitutionally protected rights that apply to everyone. If the decision-making municipality imposes a restraining order that restricts it, it is illegal.
– An infection control authority, municipality or doctor cannot prohibit visits, it must come from the government.
It says that local decisions of this kind can, in the long run, be detrimental to society.
– It is important to follow the legislation, otherwise trust in the authorities is lost. It is important to have confidence that the authorities are staying within the law. Otherwise, trust can be eroded if municipalities do something different from what everyone should follow, that’s the serious thing.
Municipalities that continue Banning visits to nursing homes runs the risk of being blamed by the Ombudsman, and the Public Health Agency has no responsibility to ensure that municipalities follow the rules, according to the General Counsel.
– The public health authority will decide on temporary recommendations, then it may be for example two weeks to reduce the infection, but then it is only a recommendation, it cannot be prevented that someone who meets a relative or individual leaves, says Bitte Bråstad.
Read more: Nursing home restraining order lifted
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