It is a relief for hundreds of thousands of families. A "visitation right" under conditions will be granted this Monday in nursing homes and in establishments welcoming disabled people, announced the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, this Sunday, during his press conference with Edouard Philippe.
It will be “at the request of the resident” and with the agreement of the management but “under limited conditions”, warned the minister. In detail, there cannot be "more than two people" and it will always be prohibited "to go and touch the person, to have physical contact".
"But there will be eye contact," said Olivier Véran, saying that it allowed us to share a lot with "those we love".
Containment for "several more weeks"
Please note: all visits will remain "under the responsibility of the management who will have to tell the family when it is possible and under what conditions", warned Olivier Véran. The Minister recalled that the confinement, scheduled until May 11 at the earliest, was "going to last several more weeks". Hence the taking of these "new recommendations" for families.
On March 11, the government banned all visits to nursing homes, in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus to the more vulnerable elderly population. "We [were] forced to, and it was very hard," admitted Olivier Véran. Emmanuel Macron had decided a first relaxation during his speech on March 13, announcing that visits to relatives at the end of life in Ehpad would be authorized with the agreement of the residence.
Olivier Véran announces that a "visitation right" will be granted in the Ehpad on Monday