The Waringo report on the management of the health crisis in nursing homes was presented on Monday and was the subject of a government statement in the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday. This was followed by sometimes very lively exchanges, which lasted more than 4 hours.

No major faults highlighted

The report did not highlight any serious faults on the part of the government. The 345 nursing home deaths related to the health crisis were not the direct result of any failings or shortcomings on the part of the family affairs ministry, although the report does make recommendations for improvement, particularly in the area of communication.

However, as in April of this year, the opposition fired a shot across the bows of the minister for family affairs, (DP). All CSV, ADR, dei Lenk and Pirates MPs called for the resignation of the minister following the tabling of a motion to this effect by (CSV). This motion was rejected by the 31 members of the majority.

At a press conference following the plenary session, held with the health minister (LSAP), Cahen maintained the course she has followed since the beginning of the health crisis: the measures taken were judicious, "the work was well done even if some things could have been done better". The minister found regrettable the opposition's "purely political manoeuvring against her".

The Waringo report also raised the issue of compulsory vaccination of health workers, seeing it as indispensable. Lenert confirmed that she was not in favour of initiating such a measure.