More resources for emergency assistance
All healthcare units in Romania treating Covid-19 patients are full, and authorities are making efforts to cope with the new infections
Daniela Budu, 09.12.2020, 14:00
In Europe, the number of new coronavirus cases stays up, and ICUs are filled with patients. The WHO has repeatedly warned against the overcrowding of healthcare systems, especially in Europe.
This week Romania has reported a record high number of coronavirus-related deaths, over 200 in 24 hours. On the other hand, this week also saw the lowest number of patients admitted into hospitals for the past month. Around 12,000 people are now hospitalised across the country, of whom some 1,200 in intensive care.
In the capital Bucharest, all intensive therapy units are full, which required the emergency transfer of some patients to other parts of the country. Four patients in serious condition were taken to Suceava, in the north, by a military aircraft on Tuesday, and from there they were taken by ambulance to Botoşani (north-west). This is not the first time that patients in critical condition have been relocated. Last month Botoşani County was one of the counties in Moldavia to receive critical COVID-19 patients.
Still, hospitals are overcrowded there as well. The authorities say they are making constant efforts to extend the capacity of the units treating coronavirus patients. They promise an increase in the number of ICU beds in Bucharest.
Following the budget adjustment operated on Tuesday, the Hospital Administration announced that funding has been provided for another approx.. 50 ICU beds in 3 hospitals in the capital city.
On Tuesday, president Klaus Iohannis assessed the situation jointly with the interim PM, Nicolae Ciucă, and with the health minister Nelu Tătaru. At the end of the meeting, the head of state announced that hundreds of ventilators and a first batch of rapid diagnostic tests will soon be delivered to hospitals across the country.
Klaus Iohannis: “There are about 300 ventilators to be supplied in the next few days, and the capacity of intensive care units will be extended accordingly. Within a week, we will also receive a first batch out of the 3 million RDTs that have already been ordered. In order to help the patients with severe forms of the disease, around 500 oxygen concentrators are already being set up.
The list of hospitals receiving COVID-19 patients has been repeatedly broadened across the country, and as the number of critical cases went up, the number of beds in intensive care units was also increased several times. (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)
