The management of the first phase of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in nursing homes for the elderly in Canton Ticino

Nursing homes in the very first phase of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic were in a shady area, with policy priority focused on tracking infected people and strengthening hospital intensive care units Given the epidemiological features of this virus, it soon became clear that nursing homes are highly vulnerable and deserve special attention This article identifies the reasons of this vulnerability in relation to the pandemic response and describes the managerial responses adopted in Canton Ticino The conclusions discuss possible strategies of coexistence with the virus and the managerial measures useful to cope with possible successive epidemic waves © 2020 FrancoAngeli All rights reserved