Pensioners and family members report that the residences of Bizkaia continue to be centres of contagion
- On 19 September the Movement of Pensioners of Bizkaia and the association of family members of users of Bizkaia Babes came to the streets of Bilbao. They have asked the Deputy General, Unai Rementeria, to publicly explain the reasons why contagion and deaths are occurring in homes after six months.
The organizers of the Saturday protest have assured in a statement that the Member General has not made a self-critical reflection and that the situation of the residences in the second wave remains critical: “What has been done since COVID-l9 free residential and day centres were declared in June?”
The Babes association and the Pensioners’ Movement have repeatedly called for measures to protect COVID-19 users, “but the problems remain unresolved.” They denounce that the negative effects of the pandemic have not disappeared as a result of the structural shortcomings of the system.
They considered it essential to substantially change the current model and called for the development of a universal and public service network based on equality. They call for the creation of a space for analysis and proposals. The Movement of Pensioners in Bizkaia, for its part, has shown its willingness to participate.
Ecuador Etxea has a note from the organization on the web, first in Spanish and then in Euskera. It also has a collection of protest photos.
47 deaths in the second wave
According to data provided by Eitb.eus on 19 September last, three people have died in senior residences in Bizkaia in recent hours. In the second wave 47 people have died, all of them elderly. According to the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, 123 positive households and 27 elderly hospitals were registered. 99 workers have tested positive and 59 are isolated, but without confirming COVID-19.
Weekly protest in Gipuzkoa
In the Gipuzkoako Senideak association, the relatives of the users of the residences meet and every Tuesday they meet in Gipuzkoa Square in Donostia, in front of the Provincial Council. At the outbreak of the pandemic, workers in the residences of Gipuzkoa were on strike demanding decent working conditions and better care for the elderly. The strike was disconvened when the pandemic began. The Gipuzkoa Senideak association is calling every Tuesday for the resolution of the conflict between the Council and the trade unions in Gipuzkoa. The next rally will take place on September 22 at Plaza Nueva.
