The only confirmed positive case continues to do well and is eager to begin a “normal quarantine”. From Tuesday, the other 13 isolated people may leave their single rooms wearing PPE and masks.
In Spain, Madrid's Gómez Ulla Hospital is working on Tuesday to ensure that the 13 people isolated after contact with hantavirus who have once again tested negative can receive 'staggered and safe' visits this week, while the only confirmed positive case continues to improve and is eager to be able to serve his 'normal quarantine'.
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'They are very excited, really looking forward to it and very happy to have received the news of a second negative result,' said José García, representative of the Independent Trade Union and Civil Servants' Centre (CSIF) at Gómez Ulla Hospital, referring to the 13 passengers from the MV Hondius, who on Tuesday are spending their ninth day of quarantine at the facility.
Permission to leave their rooms
The 13 people who were on the MV Hondius with the hantavirus have, from this Tuesday, been allowed to leave their individual rooms and move around the shared areas on the same ward where they were admitted, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and masks, as laid down in the protocol drawn up by the Public Health Commission, and to receive 'staggered and safe' visits.
García welcomed the new negative results among the 13, saying they show that 'things are being done properly', as there has been no cross-contamination with the only infected patient.
The 70-year-old man who has been in the High-Level Isolation and Treatment Unit (Uatan) since last Monday 'is fine for the moment, he is progressing well'. All options are being considered for this patient, although 'it will be difficult for him to receive visits', even though 'he is longing for the illness to pass so that he can return to his normal quarantine', García told reporters.
Protocols under close scrutiny
On the possibility that those currently in hospital could continue their quarantine at home from day 28 after their confinement began, the CSIF representative called for a step-by-step approach. He stressed, however, that this will be the case if Public Health decides that 'there is no problem' with them going home, although compliance with the protocols will be monitored very closely.
The union has also welcomed the decision by Gómez Ulla Hospital to renew 200 members of staff whose contracts were about to expire, following a meeting between CSIF and the Ministry of Public Administration, and to bring in a further 70 people.
