Twelve elderly people died in just two weeks in a residential care facility for dependent elderly people (Ehpad) in Thise (Doubs) affected by the coronavirus pandemic, the establishment said on Friday. The first cases of Covid-19 were detected on March 5, a spokesman for the establishment, whose average age is 88, told AFP.
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Since then, twelve people with symptoms similar to those caused by the coronavirus have died, including eight since last weekend, he said, confirming information from the East Republican. " It is difficult to know if these deaths are linked to the coronavirus because, like everywhere in France, we no longer systematically screen for new cases, " noted the spokesperson.
Olivier Obrecht, deputy director general of ARS Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, agrees and underlines that " the mortality rate is always high for the elderly population, very fragile when they encounter a virus ". According to the spokesperson of the Ehpad, " as of March 5, all the residents were confined to a room and all visits were suspended ".
Staff have the necessary protective equipment, teams have been reinforced and psychological support has been put in place for staff and patients. " These heroes in white coats do a remarkable job ," he said. Even if the screenings are no longer carried out, the mayor of Thise, Alain Loriguet thinks that " it is the coronavirus " which is at the origin of these deaths. According to him, " the number of people who have a fever and a mild cough is increasing, there are currently around thirty people out of 80 residents who have these symptoms ".
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The situation is " very difficult for families " who cannot see the deceased one last time, because " the brewing is carried out within four hours of the death for health reasons ", confides the elected official. For Olivier Obrecht, " the situation of the Thise nursing home as such is not emblematic, there are 400 nursing homes in the region and a certain number observe people with symptoms of the Covid-19 type ". Friday, the ARS recorded 28 deaths officially linked to Covid-19 in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 240 hospitalized patients, including 73 in intensive care.