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In light of the growing corona number, doctors warn that capabilities to treat seriously ill Covid 19 patients could reach their limits, especially in large cities. Health Minister Spahn sees Germany also prepared.
In hospitals in Germany, in view of the high number of new corona virus infections, the risk of bottlenecks is increasing, from the perspective of experts. One is preparing for a new wave of seriously ill patients, said Susanne Herold, head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Giessen University Hospital, in a joint press conference with Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn.
470 Covid 19 patients are currently being treated in intensive care units in Germany. Doctors expected a significant increase in this number, according to Herold. It is to be feared that the total number of infections will increase significantly again in the near future. On Thursday alone, the number of new coronavirus infections in Germany had soared to more than 4,000 in one day.
According to the infectologist Herold, light gradients predominate, but the same applies to clinics: you have to create rooms for new patients. Perhaps elective operations, that is, interventions that are not urgent, should be canceled again. Herold hopes people will take Corona’s risk seriously “so we don’t get into this situation.”
Big cities are more likely to face problems
The risk of supply problems varies from region to region. Doctor Christian Karagiannidis from the German Society for Internal Intensive Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine (DIIN) warned in the “Rheinische Post” of bottlenecks in intensive care beds, especially in large cities. At the moment, the situation in the German intensive care units is still relaxed, “however, at the regional level, especially in the big cities, there are already clear limitations in capacities. Especially in Berlin.”
In recent days there has been an increase in intensive hospital admissions of Covid patients across the country. “That is still easy to handle, but it is constantly growing day by day,” explained the future president of DIIN. In the context, those affected would have to be prepared for the fact that there could be transfers to clinics that are not located in the area.
8,500 free beds, 12,000 in reserve
The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) has a little more confidence: According to Andreas Gassen, CEO of KBV, the German health system has enough beds to treat corona patients. There are currently 8,500 beds available for intensive care patients, which exceeds the total capacity of Italy and Spain. There is also an emergency reserve of around 12,000 beds that could be used.
Health Minister Spahn noted that with the help of the new online registration of clinic beds it is possible to control intensive capacities much better.
