多国养老院成新冠疫情重灾区，“老有所养”成难题
根据世界卫生组织统计的数据，截至欧洲中部时间4月21日10时，全球新冠肺炎确诊病例升至2,397,217例，死亡人数达162,956人。
而更加令人悲伤的是，在这些触目惊心的数字里，有很大一部分来自各个国家的养老院。
Madrid's main funeral home says its workers lack the equipment to deal with COVID-19 victims. /Reuters
Deaths can be invisible, but coffins are hard to hide. As the coronavirus death toll climbs around the world, nursing homes are bearing the most painful brunt, enveloped by twin crises of mass infection and staffing shortages.
据《纽约时报》17日的报道，美国养老院系统内已有至少6900人死于新冠肺炎。这个数字意味着，养老机构内的死亡病例占全美死亡病例的约五分之一。
德国联邦疾控机构罗伯特·科赫研究所21日公布的数据显示，截至目前德国因新冠肺炎病亡的约4600人中，平均每三人就有一人是养老院等护理机构的住户。
法国公共卫生部门18日发布的数据显示，法国累计病亡19323人，其中11842人死于医院，7481人死于养老院在内的社会医疗机构。
加拿大养老机构也成为新冠病毒疫情的重灾区，统计数字显示，加拿大养老机构的死亡病例占到全国总数的一半。
比利时国家公共卫生研究所18日的统计数据显示，比利时在疫情中累计病亡5453人，其中2772人死于养老院，占半数以上。
Workers wave at passing cars honking their horns in support of Pinecrest Nursing Home after several residents died and dozens of staff were infected by COVID-19 in Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada, March 30, 2020. /Reuters
In Europe, an Italian government survey covering deaths in 10 percent of the nation's care homes, suggested 45 percent of all deaths in that country could be in care homes. And in Spain, leaked regional government data suggested 57 percent of the country's death toll from March 8 to April 8 was from care homes. According to Ireland's chief medical officer, 54 percent of deaths up to April 11 had occurred in care homes. Figures released by the French public health authority showed 38% percent of deaths took place in care homes. In Belgium, health ministry figures showed half of the COVID-19 deaths happened in care homes.
In North America, it's reported at least 6,900 deaths in the U.S. have been linked to coronavirus outbreaks in nursing homes and long-term care facilities in the country. In Canada, deaths in nursing homes make up almost half of the country's coronavirus deaths.
除了感染病毒，无人照管也成了威胁老人们生命的一大因素。
近日有媒体报道，因担忧感染新冠肺炎，魁北克省蒙特利尔的一家养老院的护工纷纷逃跑。大量老人因得不到妥善照顾饿死在养老院里，但养老院方面甚至没有通知过老人的家属。据报道，拥有130名老人入住的这家养老院，仅剩2名护工留守照料，多达31人在几周时间内相继离世。而尸检结果显示，其中只有5人被病毒感染。
In Quebec, Canada, 31 have died in a single home for the elderly since March 31, with residents found unfed, dehydrated and untended to, and those with COVID-19 symptoms not isolated from others.
The incidents have triggered tough questions about government oversight of private nursing homes, which have become the deadliest COVID-19 hotspots.
在意大利北部的一家养老院里有上百人死亡，在意大利南部，因为工作人员必须接受隔离检疫，83名老人整整两天没有食物供应。
BBC reported that hundreds of deaths were found in residential homes in Bergamo in northern Italy. At the same time, 83 elderly residents went without food at home for two days in the south because the staff had to go into quarantine.
A local priest blesses coffins that have been piling up in a church due to a high number of deaths in Seriate, Italy, March 28, 2020. /Reuters
面对新冠病毒，老年人本就是较为脆弱的群体，而检测设备、资金和人手的短缺更是让各地的养老院都陷入了困境。
The coronavirus is causing a large number of deaths in the age group of 80 and above, which has the highest mortality rate at 14.8 percent, according to a Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) study.
Facing a lack of testing kits, funds, care staff, and medical resources, nursing homes in any country would face difficulties, especially during a pandemic.
但是，随着各国对养老院困境的逐渐重视，一些新的措施陆续推出。
However, as countries gradually pay attention to the plight of nursing homes, some new measures have been introduced.
A screenshot of the letter written by industry leaders from Age UK to the secretary of state, asking for help to support care homes.
向上滑动阅览
法国卫生部6日表示，将启动一项面向养老院里的老年人、残疾人和专业陪护人员的新冠病毒检测行动。在法国东部上莱茵省，多家养老院刚刚完成全员检测，定于下周公布检测结果，之后地方政府和养老院主管将共同决定是否允许没有感染病毒的老年人走出房间，恢复部分社交生活。
比利时政府从4月15日起将21万套检测试剂盒陆续分发到全国1500个养老院，检测结果将在今后三周内陆续公布。
英国卫生大臣马修·汉考克15日回应了此前舆论关于英国政府养老院的疫情防控不够重视的批评，宣布从医院回到养老院的所有住户都应先接受检查，才能再住进养老院。他还承诺，将对所有出现疑似症状的养老院住户和工作人员作检测。
奥地利政府16日表示，已开始对全国所有护理院和养老院人员作新冠病毒检测。
西班牙国防部18日说，西班牙军队已经对4125家养老院完成消毒。
克罗地亚政府18日宣布，防疫部门将对养老院等福利机构的所有住户及员工作检测。
而在中国，特别是武汉，许多养老院也受到了疫情的冲击——一些老人被感染，而医疗物资的短缺也让很多患有其他疾病的老人面临无法得到及时救助的风险。
但很快多数养老院选择封闭院区，院内人员的外出和外来人员探视都被禁止，需要外出就医的老人也被要求在回到养老院之前需居家隔离14天。
当武汉的几家养老院报告了第一批确诊病例之后，当地政府为每家养老院分配了一到两名志愿者或医务人员，为老人提供帮助，如购买药品，协调养老院、医院和当地政府之间的工作。
A closed entrance of a residential community is seen in Shanghai, in Qibao, an old river town on the outskirts of Shanghai, February 19, 2020. /Reuters
Nursing homes in China, especially in Wuhan, also bore the brunt of the sudden outbreak. The virus has wreaked havoc on the elderly. Equally affected are those who are not infected but suffer from other ailments with the risk of being unable to receive timely assistance.
But before the city shut down, most nursing homes sniffed the danger and closed their facilities, banning visitors and trips outside by residents. Those who need to go out to see doctors cannot return to the nursing home; they're required to quarantine for 14 days either at home or at a hospital.
When the first batch of confirmed cases was reported in several nursing homes in Wuhan, one to two volunteers or medics were distributed by the local government to every nursing home, helping elders, such as purchasing medicine and coordinating services between the houses, hospitals and local government.