Ban on visits to nursing homes relaxed

Retirement and nursing homes in the canton will be able to allow limited visits to relatives, in compliance with hygiene regulations, from 5 May. The specific regulations have been drawn up by the institutions and adapted to the spatial requirements.

In order to protect particularly vulnerable persons during the Corona pandemic, the Health Directorate issued a general ban on visits to all care homes in the canton on 16 March. As the number of new infections has decreased significantly in recent weeks, this ban on visits can now be cautiously relaxed, as the Health Directorate writes in a statement. These adjustments will take effect immediately.

The conditions will be adjusted to the respective conditions
The exact specifications under which visits are possible are to be regulated by the respective nursing homes. The conditions, for example with regard to available premises or the number of residents, vary widely among the homes in the canton. Uniform rules have therefore not been established for all the institutions, explains the communication. The protection of the residents must be ensured with appropriate measures during all visits.

Menzingen: In the Zentrum für Pflege und Betreuunng Luegeten (Luegeten Centre for Care and support), relatives can meet with the residents in "talk boxes". The head of the nursing service, Adrian Weibel, holds up the curtain.

Among other things, these measures could include the creation of defined meeting zones within the homes. A maximum number of visits and a maximum duration of visits can also be stipulated.

Protecting health is a priority
As the experiences within the canton of Zug also indicate that older people are particularly at risk from the corona virus, the ban on visits is only to be cautiously relaxed in this first step. Larger family visits will still not be possible. "At the same time, we also need to take care of the mental health of the residents of the home. Visits by relatives are very important for this," explains Health Director Martin Pfister.

In order to protect people at risk, persons who are experiencing the symptoms of Covid-19 are still not allowed to visit relatives in care homes. Those who wish to visit relatives in nursing homes should contact the home directly, the Health Directorate writes. The home can then directly inform them regarding the circumstances under which visits are possible, and which protective measures must be observed.