Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

07/01/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/01/2022 06:29

Corinne Cahen calls for caution to continue to protect the elderly and vulnerable

The Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region, despite an epidemiological situation that justifies a relaxation of sanitary measures and barrier measures, calls for caution and advocates continued compliance with barrier measures (wearing a mask, hand hygiene, distancing oneself, sneezing in the bend of the elbow, ventilation, etc.) when in contact with elderly and vulnerable people.

The performance of a rapid antigen test is no longer an obligation but is nevertheless strongly recommended. The government will continue to make them available to managers of accommodation facilities, care and support networks and psycho-geriatric centres.

The latest published figures on infection rates confirm that the infection rate in residential care facilities for the elderly is still high, but slowly decreasing. The vast majority of people who test positive 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 generally proves to be an effective protection against the Covid-19 pandemic.

In view of the adaptation of the law of 17 July 2020, the permanent commission for the elderly sector[1], created by virtue of a motion adopted by the Chamber of Deputies on 13 July 2021, has appropriately and conscientiously adapted the recommendations intended for managers of accommodation facilities for the elderly in home help and care networks and in psycho-geriatric centres.

The recommendations can be consulted on the website of the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region.

[1] The permanent commission for the elderly sector is composed of representatives of the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region, the Health Directorate, the Ministry of Social Security, the Administration d'Evaluation et de Contrôle de l'Assurance Dépendance, the Copas, the AMMD, the Superior Council for the Elderly and the Conseil supérieur of certain health professions.

Press releasy by the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region