Mouth guards in care again – Hassleholm exempt

Covid-19 is spreading again in aged care and health care. On Thursday, mouth protection was again offered to employees at all businesses close to patients in elderly care in the municipality of Hassleholm, in accordance with the guidelines of the Skåne region.

Birgitta Ljungbeck, medical charge nurse at Hassleholm municipality, tells us that one of the departments in the Lyckåsa temporary accommodation has stopped accepting patients due to the coronavirus.

The Public Health Authority stated on its website on November 17 that the number of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases has increased by 30-50 percent weekly in recent weeks. At the same time, the number of people needing hospital care and dying from the disease has risen.

The graph of confirmed cases in private residences on the website shows a curve that follows the 2020 level, but it started a little earlier and was a little higher in early fall.

According to a press release from the Skåne region on Wednesday, the rate of increase in Skåne slowed down in mid-November after being fast and obvious since the beginning of October.

But on the same day guidelines on “measures in case of further spread of infection” came from Vårdhygien Skåne. Healthcare staff are advised to wear a mouthguard when working near patients in inpatient physical care and in municipal and social care. The goal is to prevent infection from asymptomatic healthcare workers.

According to Birgitta Ljungbeck, the increasing spread of infection in the community is now being felt in elderly care in the municipality of Hassleholm.

– Not much, but we just had it in Heimgarden. She now says she is in Lyckåsa.

In Hemgarden, five elderly people were affected. Birgitta Ljungbeck says the infection could be limited to a section that is now considered infection-free.

In Likasa, two seniors received positive test results on Thursday, and one of them was hospitalized.

– I don’t know if there are diseases lurking there, but they affect frail elderly people, says Birgitta Ljungbeck.

All those infected have received the sixth dose of the vaccine and are therefore expected to have a lower risk of developing serious illness from Covid-19.

More test results are expected at Lyckåsa.

– But you’re not testing everyone now. If more than one is found to be positive, we take one or two more. Then we assume that the person who has symptoms has Covid. Birgitta Ljungbeck explains that it is up to the doctor to evaluate whether more samples should be taken.

Isolated cases have also been found in home care. There are currently two people who have tested positive in the Bjärnum-Vittsjö area.

-It still feels like we have control now. It’s not the same hysteria it once was during the pandemic. “But I am happy that most of them have been vaccinated,” says Birgitta Ljungbeck.

The Public Health Authority recommends that all people over the age of 65 and people at risk should take the sixth vaccination dose. Influenza vaccination is also recommended.

The guidelines issued by Vårdhygien Skåne include further measures to prevent the spread of infection. Among other things, the importance of good ventilation is mentioned. In waiting rooms where many patients stay, consider air filtration using HEPA-filtered circulating units.

Otherwise, overcrowding in care rooms, waiting rooms and staff rooms must be reduced and patients with suspected infection identified and separated, and companies are required to ensure access to adequate protective equipment. Employees who exhibit respiratory symptoms are advised to stay home and visitors who exhibit symptoms are advised not to visit. You should avoid staying in common patient areas during visits.

Berret O’Neill