UAZ: with the return of Covid, 300,000 masks were distributed in nursing homes

Since its emergence just over three years ago, it has been announced that Covid is about to join the cohort of seasonal diseases. With the onset of winter, in addition to the flu or gastroenteritis, there is a return of Covid. Oise, which was the first department affected in France, was not spared and several cases were reported.

“Two weeks or three weeks ago we had several sick patients,” confirms Christine Loucher, director of the Bertineau-Juel hospital in Chaumont-en-Vexin. They have now been treated and all 86 of our residents admitted to long-term care units (USLD) are doing well. But staff have since put their masks back on. »

Faced with this threat, the council of the Oise department decided to support institutions hosting older people. All departmental elected officials have begun a large-scale distribution of masks to all nursing homes (accommodation establishments for the dependents of elderly people) and USLDs in Oise.

“These masks are a precautionary principle.”

A total of 295,416 masks will be or will be offered to 6,800 residents at these various facilities. “The end of the year always includes moments of fun, a reunion of family or friends, which contribute to contagion,” recalls Florent Jedrzejewski, head of SOS Médecins-Beauvais. It is absolutely necessary to maintain barrier gestures. In December we were able to observe stability of Covid, but in recent days we have noted an increase in cases. »

For the practitioner, distributing masks is “a very good initiative.” » “These masks are a precautionary principle,” he emphasizes. We go to visit our elders, we want to hug them, we laugh together and, if we are contagious, we become very dangerous to our loved ones. »

The trauma of nursing homes where visitors are banned actually still lingers among residents. “We should have our quota of masks next week,” Christine Lushe announces. We still have a small supply, and since the situation here is calm, there is no emergency or any special Covid-related measures for our residents. But I know it’s happening right now. Moreover, the Beauvais and Clermont hospitals are again requiring masks for staff, as well as for visitors. »