Story By: Ernest Bio Bogore, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

This French MP has blasted the country’s government and said “we are leaving our old people to die” in care homes with no protection during the coronavirus outbreak.

Republicans Group MP Eric Ciotti criticised the refusal to hospitalise people with coronavirus in government-run Ehpad nursing homes in an interview with Radio J on 12th April.

He said: “We have refused to hospitalise people who were infected in Ehpad nursing homes, we have left them somewhere to die in indifference, without proper health care.”

According to the latest national report released on 11th April, the coronavirus has killed more than 4,889 residents of Ehpad nursing homes and medical and social institutions since the beginning of the epidemic in France.

According to Eric Ciotti, “this death toll will be the biggest scandal of this tragic moment for France.”

He went on to denounce “a policy of refusal of care by the SAMU (emergency medical services) for elderly people.”

He also questioned “choices”, in particular, the non-solicitation of hospitals in the private sector to take care of elderly people.

According to reports, it was only possible to test the first three suspected COVID-19 cases in the Ehpad nursing homes.

The government announced on Monday 6th April that a massive screening campaign would be gradually launched in the nursing home system.

Ciotti reacted to the government’s announcement and says: “It is still not done systematically”.

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