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Two residents of a care home in Saaremaa were diagnosed with Covid-19

Foto: Pixabay

Two residents of Saaremaa Südamekodu Care Home tested positive for coronavirus. Both infected persons were admitted to the Kuressaare Hospital for treatment, their condition is stable, and they are under medical supervision.

According Kadri Juhkam, the Head of the Western division of the Health Board, residents and employees who have been in close contact with the infected are being tested and necessary additional safety measures are imposed.

"We are in constant contact with the nursing home and are identifying the people who have been in close contact with the infected," said Kadri Juhkam. She confirms that the premises will be disinfected and the movement of the residents of the care home will be restricted until test results have come back.  The care home currently houses 40 residents.

"In accordance with the recommendations of the Health Board, we started testing our residents and employees.  All employees have so far tested negative. One resident displayed symptoms and we have requested testing of two other residents who had been in close contact with them," said Piret Pihel, director of Saaremaa Südamekodu care home.   “We know that two residents who did not show any symptoms during the time of testing have tested positive. We isolated the premises already 2 weeks ago, and we have done our best to protect our residents and employees by using personal protective equipment as much as possible".

According to Pihel, separate floors of the care home have been isolated from each other, and it has been recommended for all the residents to stay in their rooms so that the number of contacts is minimal. “in cooperation with the Health Board, the Social Insurance Fund and Saaremaa Municipality, we will do our utmost to keep the situation stable,” Pihel added.

The Health Board urgently reminds that:

  • Visiting care homes during the outbreak is strictly forbidden as it endangers the health of residents
  • It is very important to minimise contacts between persons as it is the only way to limit the spread of the virus.

In the coming weeks it is also necessary to avoid the movement of residents of care homes from one care home to another, and to refrain from accepting the new residents. In the case of the elderly who need care, the local government must be contacted for home care services.  The Health Board, the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Social Insurance Fund have developed guidelines for employees or residents at care homes who are suspected of being infected. The guidelines have been sent to all care homes. The Social Insurance Fund is staying in touch with care homes and is prepared to respond to the situation on a case-by-case basis.

 In recent weeks, the Social Insurance Fund has been actively involved in informing the care homes that compliance with hygiene requirements is crucial in preventing the spread of the infection. The responsibility of each service provider is to ensure that all recommendations and measures are implemented as much as possible.

With regard to the State declared emergency situation, all visitations to social welfare institutions, hospitals, detention facilities are forbidden until 1, 2020, unless the government decides otherwise.

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