Reconfiguration of the healthcare system
The growing number of coronavirus infections has led to the reorganisation of the Romanian healthcare system
Leyla Cheamil, 14.04.2020, 14:00
The healthcare system is on the front line of the battle against the SARS CoV-2, virus. Although measures have been taken to contain and prevent the spread of the virus in Romania, new hotbeds appeared, which required additional action to address the crisis.
More difficult cases have been reported recently in Focșani and Galați (east), where Healthcare Minister Nelu Tătaru travelled these days to assess the situation.
The County Emergency Hospital in Focşani is now under military management, after the previous manager tested positive for COVID-19 and all staff are to be tested. The Vrancea Ambulance Service based in the same city reported that the dispatch centre personnel are all infected, and so are 9 healthcare personnel, and daily activities had to be reorganised accordingly.
Problems are also reported in Galați, where the healthcare minister inspected a private care centre for the elderly, currently quarantined over coronavirus infections, and the County Hospital, whose ICU receives the most severe COVID-19 cases.
On this occasion, Nelu Tătaru said the current restrictions cannot be relaxed sooner than the second half of May, and warned that as far as the elderly are concerned, these restrictions will stay in place:
Nelu Tătaru: “We are considering extensions of more than a month, if the situation requires it. We have to keep in mind that they are the vulnerable ones. We must protect our elderly, so we will do what we have to do. At this point we cannot talk about a precise date, these restrictions will still be very much in place because the next 3 or 4 weeks are going to be rather difficult. We will only be able to talk about relaxation after the 15th or 20th of May or even 1st of June, but there will be progressive relaxation, with separate measures for each locality. And some restrictions will be preserved, we will only go out if we wear face masks and gloves. So restrictions will be eased out, but some precautions will stay in place.
At the Deva County Hospital, in the west of the country, where another coronavirus outbreak had been reported and where military management was introduced as a result, the quarantine is now over and staff are ready to receive COVID-19 patients. Prior to reopening, disinfection and sterilisation was completed, movement circuits have been put together by epidemiologists, and medical staff were organised in shifts for the forthcoming 2 weeks.
Meanwhile, in Constanţa (south-east), quarantine tents fitted with utilities have been mounted, as part of a modular isolation and care system which also benefits from a modern x-ray machine and a new PCR testing unit.
(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)
