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Kurz also said: “Nothing that we are currently experiencing in Europe or Austria is surprising.” As a society, one now has to “take countermeasures together” so that the system does not become overloaded.
Anschober: Soon 5,800 new infections per day
Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) spoke of a “highly problematic dynamic”. It is important to have talked to the experts. Since Tuesday night one has “increasingly alarming” forecasts on the table. And these are apparently devastating: “Current forecasts assume that we will have an increase of more than 5,800 cases per day by the end of next week,” Anschober said. If this trend continues, “the capacity limits could be exceeded in mid-November.” Anschober: “We have an urgent need to act to stop these developments.”
Across Europe there is “a tremendous dynamic,” Anschober said. Essentially, it is about “act now” to ensure “good and comprehensive medical care.” Compared to current measures, it is necessary to “readjust clearly, clearly”.
700 beds for Covid patients
Herwig Ostermann, Managing Director of Health Austria, confirmed Anchor’s remarks. A patient with a crown must be cared for in an intensive care unit for an average of twelve and a half days. Although there are currently only 250 people in intensive care units, this number would rise considerably as a result of the forecasts, according to Ostermann. He cautioned: “Common social behavior needs to be changed to make testing and contact tracing work again.”
The situation in intensive care units is as follows, Ostermann explained: It not only has an entrance, but also an exit for patients. “In mid-November, it is possible to have a range of 400 to 500 patients in intensive care units.” On average, there are 2,000 intensive care beds in Austria. But they couldn’t be fully occupied in order to react in an emergency. “As the upper edge”, a total of 1,800 intensive care patients could be treated. In rare cases, 700 to 800 beds could be filled with Covid patients, but then “the normal schedule” could no longer be undone.
“The system was not prepared for a pandemic”
Klaus Markstaller, president of the Austrian Society of Anesthesia, said that intensive care medicine is “the most expensive resource in a hospital.” The “small peaks” can be captured at any time. “This system was not prepared for a pandemic,” Markstaller said. Or you have to change patient flow or expand capabilities. However, expansion is only possible up to a point, everything else would take “years”.
“We live in one of the best healthcare systems in the world,” says Markstaller. If this “good system” were pushed to the limit, every patient could no longer be treated in the best possible way. “It is important to avoid that.”
