The following information was sent to the residents of Eyri, Berg, Tjörn and the nursing unit at Patreksfjörður, and their relatives. 

Dear residents and relatives.

We ask relatives to put their own interests aside for the interests of the whole.

Christmas is a great family celebration and has a special place in most people's hearts. Over the years, we at Hvest nursing homes have looked at the Christmas season with great joy and anticipation and felt it was important to do everything we could to make Christmas Eve and the Christmas days as festive as possible for our residents, relatives and staff.

This year, it is clear that the Christmas celebration will not be in a traditional format. Covid has affected the lives of all of us, regular socializing has gone out of control and great restrictions have been placed on all communication. At Hvest, certain visiting restrictions have been in effect since the beginning of the epidemic, varying each time. The goal has always been to protect our residents and try to prevent infection from entering homes. In light of the circumstances and the fact that togetherness will not be the same as previous Christmas celebrations, we will make even more efforts to do everything in our power to make the Christmas celebration as festive and pleasant as possible for our residents.

Epidemic authorities have emphasized that we "stick it out" and create our own "Christmas balls/Christmas friends" where individuals choose those they feel are most important to communicate with during the holidays. We at Hvest also need to keep this in mind. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to invite spouses or other relatives to eat with the resident on Christmas Eve or the other Christmas days. The same goes for New Year's Day and New Year's Day.

We strongly advise against residents going out of their homes to visit their relatives during the holidays. If a resident leaves the home, he must be quarantined for 5 days at a relative's home before returning to the home. At the end of the quarantine (after 5 days) a Covid sample will be taken.

Please note that the following visiting rules will always have to take into account the situation of the epidemic in the community and may therefore change until Christmas.

We send you all our best wishes for a merry Christmas and look forward to the new year with hope for more time together in the new year.

More generous rules over Christmas

The Vestfjörður Institute of Health has decided to only extend the visiting rules for the Christmas days if the situation in society allows.

  • Two guests have permission to visit each resident on Christmas Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The second visitor is the one who has that visiting week.
  • The same two guests may come during these 3 days (in addition to spouses of residents).
  • Visitors are expected to arrive between: 13:00-16:30 and/or from 19:30-22:00.
  • Children under the age of 18 are allowed to visit, but then they are considered one of these two guests.
  • Remember to sanitize your hands upon arrival and before leaving home.
  • All guests must bring a face mask (mask). It is not allowed to bring a nerve mask.
  • Please wear your mask at all times during your visit.
  • Please go directly to the resident's room, do not stop and chat on the way. Enter through balcony doors where applicable. If a resident is not in the room, ask the staff to pick them up, don't do it yourself.
  • The value 2 meters the rule and avoid contact with residents.
  • Residents may be taken for a walk in the local area during the visit.
  • It is not permitted to go for a car ride or visit with your visiting guest.
  • Exceptions to this are only granted in case of severe illness of the resident and permission from the Head of Department/Assistant Head of Department is required.

please not enter the nursing homes if:

  • You are in quarantine or isolation.
  • You are waiting for the result of the sampling.
  • You have flu-like symptoms (cold, cough, fever, headache, bone pain, fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc.).
  • You were abroad less than 14 days ago.

It is important to remember to enjoy togetherness, festivity and affection, even if the festive dinner on Christmas Eve is not eaten together. The togetherness itself is so important. You can create your own holiday and Christmas time with your relatives. Take for example, that you can sit together in the residents' room and open Christmas packages, listen to Christmas music and enjoy the festivities and being together.

Enjoy electronic communication. The person who comes to visit can connect with other relatives through the Internet. In this way, it is possible to create a festive moment of togetherness with more than just the visiting guest.

More generous rules at the end of the year

The Vestfjörður Health Institute has decided to only extend the visiting rules at the end of the year if the situation in society allows.

  • Two guests have permission to visit each resident on New Year's Day and New Year's Day. The second visitor is the one who has that visiting week.
  • The same two guests may come these 2 days (plus spouses of residents).
  • Visitors are expected to arrive between 13:00-16:30 and from 19:30-22:00.
  • Children under the age of 18 are allowed to visit, but then they are considered one of these two guests.
  • Remember to sanitize your hands upon arrival and before leaving home.
  • All guests must bring a face mask (mask). It is not allowed to bring a nerve mask.
  • Please wear your mask at all times during your visit.
  • Please go directly to the resident's room, do not stop and chat on the way. If a resident is not in the room, ask the staff to pick them up, don't do it yourself.
  • Respect the 2 meter rule and avoid contact with residents.
  • Residents may be taken for a walk in the local area during the visit.
  • It is not permitted to go for a car ride or visit with your visiting guest.
  • Exceptions to this are only granted in case of severe illness of the resident and permission is required from the duty manager of the department.

please not enter the nursing homes if:

  • You are in quarantine or isolation.
  • You are waiting for the result of the sampling.
  • You have flu-like symptoms (cold, cough, fever, headache, bone pain, fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc.).
  • You were abroad less than 14 days ago.

It is important to remember to enjoy togetherness, celebration and affection, even if the New Year's Eve dinner is not eaten together. The togetherness itself is so important. You can create your own holiday and New Year's time with your relatives.

Enjoy electronic communication. The person who comes to visit can connect with other relatives through the Internet. In this way, it is possible to create a festive moment of togetherness with more than just the visiting guest.

 

Author: GÓ