Increased spread of infection in nursing homes: “Concern”

The spread of the infection in Sweden has accelerated again, and the increase can also be seen in the country’s nursing homes. Stock Photography.Image: Pontus Lundahl / TT

The spread of the infection in healthcare in Sweden has been at a low level for several months, but has risen sharply since the end of September, says Greger Bengtsson.

– It is still the case that no municipality has a spread of contagion in its activities as extensive as in the spring, but it is worrying because it is increasing.

The failure to stop the spread of nursing homes this spring has been pointed to as the decisive reason for the high death toll in Sweden. Almost half of those who have died with covid-19 in Sweden have been people with special housing, according to statistics from the National Board of Health and Welfare.

However, preparation in the country is considerably better now than when the pandemic began, says Greger Bengtsson.

– But if we have a greater spread of the infection in the country, it is very difficult to keep it out of the nursing homes, if they are not completely isolated from the outside world.

The national restraining order that applies throughout much of the pandemic was lifted on October 1, meaning that municipalities have no legal right to detain visitors. However, several municipalities keep trying, with good results.

Osby is one such example, who “strongly discourages” care visits.

– We do not have contagion in the nursing homes of our municipality, so we want to act now. We want to be proactive, says Lina Bengtsson, medically responsible nurse at Osby.

So far, the request has been largely attended to by residents.

– The vast majority have understanding and believe that it is good that we want to protect residents.

However, she believes it can be a long-term problem if she lacks legal support to detain visitors.

– If it takes time, it may be more difficult, then people may start to want to go back.

– Perhaps it was possible to make a decision on temporary restraining orders at the regional level? I personally would have liked that, she says.

Köping is another municipality that advises against visiting nursing homes, a decision that was made after the virus began to spread in a nursing home in late September.

– We quickly got a fairly large spread of the infection, with about ten infected users and about twenty employees, says Annasarah Pavasson, head of health and care administration at Köping.

None of the infected have died and now all are beginning to recover. But as long as any infection remains in homes, the deterrence will remain, he says.

SKR’s Greger Bengtsson believes the development shows that there is a need for opportunities to make decisions on restraining orders at the regional level.

– It is sad that the government has not seized the opportunity to produce the kind of legislation that allows for decisions at the local and regional level during the times of low spread of infection.

Both SKR and the Swedish Public Health Agency have proposed an amendment to the Infection Control Act to be able to isolate dementia patients with covid-19, but that possibility is still lacking. This can also lead to problems, according to Greger Bengtsson.

– If you want to prevent infection, it becomes very problematic when there are people with dementia who do not understand that you have to isolate yourself so as not to infect others, he says.

Annasarah Pavasson at Köping believes that it is a difficult subject that requires proper ethical considerations, but believes that it is concerning for people who do not understand the danger they may pose to others.

– We want to protect everyone. We want everyone to be safe and secure, she says.