Fischbach stressed that it is “extremely important” that every worker and employee who is in direct, close, and regular contact with the residents of a retirement home must be included in the third vaccination phase. The Copas President stated that he has already informed the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Family Affairs of his concern and hopes for a response “maybe by this Friday”.
Marc Fischbach is 75 years old and has received his own booster shot two weeks ago. He stated that he is feeling “very well” and considers himself lucky because he did not experience any side effects. Fischbach added that he is also in favour of making booster shots available to anyone who wishes to receive one.
Ahead of the upcoming winter season, the Copas President showed himself optimistic that the care structures for the elderly are well prepared. There are currently no clusters in any of the Grand Duchy’s retirement and nursing homes.
“A template of a sanitary procedure”
Fischbach thinks that in part, this is explained by the fact that 80% of residents have already received three doses of the vaccine. The Copas President explained that it will take longer to reach the 95% of the first two vaccination phases. The reason for this is that unfortunately “more than a few” residents have died either from old age or diseases other than Covid-19, and new residents have not yet reached the six-month threshold after their second dose. Vaccination among staff members has also been progressing well, despite the fact that Copas can only base itself on estimates, as many staff members do not live in Luxembourg.
The other reason why the care structures for the elderly are well prepared is because they have made use of summer to prepare themselves, Fischbach stated. Hygiene experts at Copas created a “template of a sanitary procedure”, which stipulates “all rules, all procedures, all prevention measures to be respected as they apply to different situations depending on the number of infections”. Structures can use this template and either introduce it as is or adjust and complete it according to “material and infrastructural circumstances”, Fischbach explained. The template is to be understood as a “complement” to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Family Affairs.
When asked whether these new measures are a reaction to the high number of deaths in spring, or the findings of the Waringo report, Fischbach replied that they are “if you want them to be”. However, the Copas President added that they were mainly meant to sum up the numerous guidelines already in place. Fischbach stressed that every home still has complete autonomy to decide how they want to use it.
Lastly, Fischbach stated that he does not think there will be a new lockdown, at least not in the sense that visits will be prohibited. Nevertheless, the Copas President stated that checks must be carried out strictly, as this is a highly vulnerable demographic.
