COVID-19 reports from nursing homes in Madrid (Spain): ambulances not turning up, insufficient staff, lack of PPE. Goverment drafts in army support.

Jose-Luis Fernandez-Plotka (CPEC)

Newspaper articles on the situation in nursing homes in Madrid (Spain), it is estimated that by the 19th March, 70 people had died with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 in nursing homes in Madrid. The article highlights:

• Ambulances not turning up to nursing homes
• Staff absences due to being infected themselves or to fear of contagion (particularly staff who live with older relatives)
• Lack of Personal Protection Equipment (reports of using kitchen gloves instead)

In Spanish: https://elpais.com/espana/madrid/2020-03-19/abandonados-en-la-residencia-yo-veo-a-este-senor-llorando-y-deberia-tener-asistencia-en-un-hospital.html

https://elpais.com/espana/madrid/2020-03-21/semana-tragica-en-la-residencia.html

In English: https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-03-20/coronavirus-crisis-in-madrids-senior-homes-if-he-gets-infected-no-one-will-do-anything-to-help-him.html

By the 21st March, the Spanish Army’s Emergency Support unit was made available to offer support to nursing homes who were short-staffed, carrying out tasks such as disinfection.

(Spanish) https://elpais.com/sociedad/2020-03-21/el-ejercito-intervendra-en-las-residencias-que-pidan-auxilio-para-cubrir-la-falta-de-personal.html

https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2020/03/22/5e77625921efa06f388b4625.html