The Social Rights Department of the Government of Navarra has made measures to combat the pandemic more flexible in nursing homes and centres for people with disabilities. If the vaccination rate of the centres is greater than 80%, users will not have to use masks. In addition, they will be able to receive more visits and will be of indefinite time. The outings of the centre will also be made more flexible.

Among vaccinated users, since March there have been no deaths from coronavirus in nursing homes and in those with disabilities. In the last two months, there have also been no cases of infection of any user. The improvement in the situation has led the Government to implement the new measures demanded by families and workers. The Social Rights Counselor, Mari Carmen Maeztu, explained that the situation of the centers is "calm and confident" regarding the beginning of the pandemic and has announced the flexibilization of the measures on July 4.

Among its decisions is to remove the obligation to wear a mask. In centres where the vaccination rate is over 80%, users will not have to use masks; for the time being, workers and visitors should have them with them. However, visitors who are vaccinated will be able to circulate in any of the spaces in the center, and not only in the spaces enabled for visits, as so far. This will make it possible for volunteers to enter the residences and other centers.

There will also be changes in the visiting regime. Visits without a time limit will be allowed and, in addition, there will be no limit on weekly visits per user. From March to the present, the situation has been different: it has had to request a prior appointment to receive visitors, and to avoid crowds and ensure good ventilation of the spaces, each center has had to limit the duration and number of visits. At least one half-hour weekly visit has been authorised for each user.

From July onwards, the hours of departure of the users of the centre will not be limited. Until March two types of exits have been distinguished: exits that allow respecting security measures, low risk (such as those carried out on the street with family members) and high risk, situations that make it difficult to comply with security measures (such as spending the night out of the house or family meals). In the latter, users have had to perform a PCR test before returning to the facility and then have had to undergo a quarantine. As of July, only those who spend 72 hours outside the center and do not have to do so before will have to do the paperwork.

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The situation generated by the pandemic in nursing homes has given rise to some deficiencies in the management of the centers. In the case of Navarre, the latter data are included in the report on nursing homes prepared by the Institute of Public and Occupational Health. The LAB syndicate has stated that the results obtained "directly" question the Government of Navarra and that in order to avoid problems in the management of residences it is necessary to publish the centers. They have asked for a meeting with the Social Rights Counselor, Mari Carmen Maeztu, from the union.