Credit: Pixabay
Despite the eased epidemiological situation and relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, Luxembourg's Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region has called for caution and advocated continued compliance with barrier measures among people who are in contact with elderly and vulnerable people.
The Ministry has asked people who are in contact with these groups of people to continue to comply with barrier measures, such as wearing a mask, washing and disinfecting one's hands and maintaining physical distance, in order to continue to protect the elderly and vulnerable from COVID-19.
Whilst a rapid antigen test is no longer obligatory, it is strongly recommended. The Luxembourg Government will continue to make such tests available to the managers of accommodation facilities, care and support networks and psycho-geriatric centres.
The Ministry noted that the latest published figures on COVID-19 infection rates confirm that the infection rate in residential care facilities for the elderly remains high, but is slowly decreasing. The vast majority of people who test positive currently have no or very few symptoms. This development is, on the one hand, due to the low pathogenicity of the BA.5 variant and, on the other hand, to the high rate of vaccination, which, according to the Ministry, generally proves to be an effective protection against COVID-19.
In view of the adaptation of the law of 17 July 2020, the permanent commission for the elderly sector, created by virtue of a motion adopted by the Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg Parliament) on 13 July 2021, has adapted the recommendations intended for managers of accommodation facilities for the elderly in home help and care networks and in psycho-geriatric centres.
These recommendations can be consulted on the website of the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region: https://mfamigr.gouvernement.lu/en/dossiers/faq/faqnew.html
