Although the Ministry of Health has approved testing in nursing homes, High Court judges will examine immediately after the holiday the issue of elderly residents and staff in institutions where the virus was discovered

The High Court takes a picture: A hearing will be held next week on the urgent petition of the Association of Nursing Homes and Sheltered Housing (ABA). The hearing will be held next Thursday with a panel of three judges - Uzi Fogelman, Manny Mazuz and Alex Stein - and the prosecution Her response by this coming Monday.

Demonstration of tenants' families in front of the Maanan nursing home in Beer Sheva // Photo: Gadi Golan

This week, in Israel Today, it was announced that following the nursing home battle, the Ministry of Health agreed to approve tests for Corona for any new tenant who is referred to a nursing home or returns to hospital. So far, the Ministry of Health has demanded that nursing homes receive every tenant even without examination.

More on:

• The petition that saved the nursing homes?

• Approved: Corona check for every new tenant in a nursing home

• After the first victim has contracted sheltered housing - the elderly require tests in nursing homes

• Association of Nursing Homes and Sheltered Housing: "We Needed to Get Tenants Without a Corona Test"

Last Tuesday, the High Court ruled "as soon as possible" in ABA's petition, represented by Attorney Ilan Bombach, and 23 nursing homes against the Ministry of Health and other ministries demanding immediate corona testing for all occupants and staff The nursing homes where Corona was discovered, including those who have no symptoms of the disease.

The petition was filed with the requirement to perform corona tests for each occupant and works in a nursing home or sheltered housing in the case of which one of them was found to be a verified patient. "This petition is about the right to life and the integrity of the body, and the way the state should preserve these fundamental rights, which are not superior, in order to care for the elderly in Israel," the petition reads.

"The urgent debate is being consumed and sought after by the large number of nursing home residents who have died following the infection of the Corona virus, and given the fact that it is not disputed that nursing seniors are a hard-hit population against the Corona virus."

The petition states that the Association of Nursing Homes represents 200 nursing homes and sheltered housing in Israel, public and private, where approximately 27,000 residents reside and employ approximately 16,000 employees who are in constant contact with them.

The petitioners also demanded a special emergency budget to be allocated to sheltered housing following the danger of collapse of nursing homes due to high expenses and planned homes due to the situation. "These days, many institutions incur huge costs in millions of shekels for fighting the Corona virus and maintaining the lives of their tenants and senior citizens.

ABA Chairman Ronnie Ozeri welcomed a statement from the High Court: "We are sorry that we had to reach the High Court to get the equal and proper treatment that comes to the institutions, the treatment teams and first and foremost - the occupants. We hope that the Ministry of Health will grant our request, and if not - that the High Court will force them to come back and provide true solutions to the nursing homes and sheltered housing. "