COVID-19 in Nursing Homes: The Problematic Management of Residents Without Positive COVID-19 RT-PCR

Since December 2019, a pandemic linked to the new coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), now known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has spread throughout the world. Subjects with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic or present with fever, cough, dyspnea and around 15% may develop acute respiratory distress syndrome. Because older adults are among the most at risk of developing these complications,1 several recommendations have been established to better protect this group against the risk of contagion. It is all the more true for older adults living in nursing homes (NH), since they form the most vulnerable group, with comorbidities and dependency. Very early on in the lock-down, therefore, all residents were confined and visiting was severely restricted, on the recommendation of national geriatric societies, in addition to other barrier measures.