Committee for Labour, Employment and Social Protection: Employees of five boarding houses in the Vitebsk region have switched to a shift-based work schedule

11/11/20200 views

In the Vitebsk region, employees of the 5 largest boarding facilities have switched to a shift-based work schedule due to the new wave of COVID-19, reported Vera Astapenko, Head of the Department for Social Support of the Population and Stationary Institutions of the Committee for Labour, Employment and Social Protection of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

Employees and technical staff of these social institutions go on duty for two weeks, reside in designated rooms, and then spend two weeks at home. "We plan to transfer another 6 boarding facilities with a smaller number of residents to the same regime from November 15 to 18," said Vera Astapenko.

Disinfection has been carried out in the boarding facilities, and each employee and resident has been provided with personal protective equipment (PPE).

Staff have been vaccinated against influenza. Employees provide their own PPE: they sew protective masks and gowns from spunbond. "Throughout the entire period since the beginning of the pandemic, not a single case of COVID-19 infection, or even ARVI, has been registered in the boarding facilities," emphasized Vera Astapenko.

Apart from a special regime in residential institutions for the elderly and disabled, there have been no significant changes in the operation of social protection organizations and institutions. Assistance to those in need is provided in the same standard mode as during the first wave of coronavirus. Social workers visit their clients at home, fulfill their orders, and help them with household chores. Each social worker is equipped with medical masks and gloves. Upon request, masks and disinfectants are provided to citizens: social service institutions have a supply for 3 months.

Taking into account the epidemiological situation, some working conditions of territorial centers for social services to the population are being modified. Day care centers for the elderly and disabled are, where possible, shifting club activities to an online format or organizing classes remotely.

The delivery of food products for elderly, single, and solitary residents has been established in the same way as during the previous wave of COVID-19. In October, 864 requests were fulfilled in the Vitebsk region. Employees of social institutions are assisted by representatives of the Red Cross, BRSM, trade workers, and concerned citizens. A total of over 12.1 thousand requests from the public have been fulfilled from January to October.