Covid Hospitals under pressure as cases balloon

The Social Security Fund (CSS), is under pressure due to the increase in cases of Covid-19 says the entity’s director Enrique Lau Cortés.

Last week they only had 18 patients admitted to the Covid Hospital of the City of Health and to date the figure exceeds 100. In addition, there are about 30 patients scheduled to be transferred to the Hospital.

“Yes, there is pressure,” said the director about the increase in infections and hospitalizations in the midst of the fourth wave of the pandemic.

“What is happening with the pandemic is not relaxation. People are getting sick; those who have comorbidities are arriving at hospitals, they are being admitted to special respiratory care units, requiring life support in intensive care, and people are dying,” said Lau Cortés.

According to the epidemiological report issued Saturday by the Ministry of Health, at the national level, there are 794 hospitalized; 715 are in the ward and 79 in the ICU.

The director of the CSS announced that in the face of an increase in patients who require admission to the Covid Hospital, more beds can be enabled. The same can be done at the Metropolitan Hospital Complex and at the Irma Lourdes de Tzanetatos Hospital in the district of 24 de Diciembre.

He added that an additional level would involve the use of campaign hospitals and a broader measure would be to rethink gyms and schools.

“We are strategically prepared: at various points, we have indicators that tell us when one scale should be activated and when the next one should be activated. Right now we are enduring, but we can’t do it alone, we need the population to become aware, take care of themselves,” said Lau Cortés.

Meanwhile, the Association of Private Hospitals reported that the occupation of private hospitals with cases of Covid-19 is high.