Minister of Health Paulette Lenert and head of the AMMD Dr Alain Schmit held a press briefing about the reopening of medical practices next week.
Medical practices can reopen next Monday if strict guidelines are respected. The medical professions that can resume on 4 May include: GPs, specialised doctors, dentists, veterinarians, psychotherapists, nurses, physiotherapist, masseurs, podiatrists, rehabilitators, occupational therapists, osteopaths, dieticians, midwives.
Patients have to make an appointment in advance and, if possible, continue to rely on tele-consultations. A number of precautionary measures will have to be observed. Patients are urged to come alone to in-person appointments unless they require the assistance of a second person. Each patient will receive a face mask and checked for coronavirus symptoms before entering the waiting room. If a patient displays symptoms, they will be re-directed to a hospital or advanced care centre. Card payments will be preferred over cash payments.
Advanced care centres will remain open for coronavirus patients only. Their opening times will also be adjusted. Lenert stressed that these changes could be revoked if the new infections were to rise again. The medical centres for dental emergencies also remain open for the time being.
Hospitals will continue to separate patients into groups, shielding regular patients from Covid-19 patients. Dentists can pick up protective equipment from Victor Hugo hall on Thursday.
Paulette Lenert stressed that patients who test positive for the virus are legally obliged to self-isolate.
