We did not pass the late exam, in November: a lot of deaths

Experts predict that the peak of morbidity, depending on how the quarantine conditions are met, will be reached in the last two weeks.

Aurelijus Veryga, Minister of Health, Head of State Emergency Operations, Danas Bakša, Director of the National Public Health Laboratory (NVSPL) and Daiva Razmuvienė, Chief Specialist of the Infectious Disease Management Division of the National Center for Public Health (NVSC ), spoke at a press conference on Thursday at a press conference on how to handle the morbidity situation in Lithuania. .

The average age of the dead is 77.8 years.

At present, 907 people are treated in hospitals for COVID-19, 83 in resuscitation, 484 in oxygen masks and 51 in artificial lung ventilation.

D. Razmuvienė noted that coronavirus mortality increased especially in November.

According to the epidemiologist, the average age of all coronavirus deaths in Lithuania is 77.8 years. A total of 244 deaths were recorded. Only in November 11 there were 78 deaths.

The epidemiologist also said that in November a higher rate of infection was observed among older people.

“It is safe to say that we have not been able to cope with the late period with recommendations,” added D. Razmuvienė.

According to the epidemiologist, on November 11, 963 infected health professionals were registered. Among them are nurses, nursing assistants. Throughout October, that number was 724.

Targeted patients

A. Veryga transmitted the request from the doctors of the main combat hospitals to the patients.

“The request relates to the difficult situation where, after filling up the main hospitals, patients with a milder condition must be admitted to other hospitals that are ready and suitable for COVID-19 patients.

On behalf of the doctors, I would like to ask all patients to be vigilant, although it is not convenient for them to be transferred to another institution upon arrival. And apparently everyone wants to be treated in university hospitals, but these hospitals treat patients who need special help, ”said A. Veryga.

Asked what the current situation is in the main hospitals in the country, where COVID-19 patients are seriously ill, the Minister said: “The situation in the main hospitals, as it was, is still very tense. Their resources and resources are very limited, causing patients to be admitted to smaller hospitals. There is constant communication and cooperation with the organizing hospitals. But anyway, the situation is still very tense, so it is no coincidence that today I have asked patients to be aware that those who do not need complicated care are not outraged that they are being transported to smaller hospitals where they definitely help will be provided ”.

“It is not enough to find a room and bring the beds there”

On Wednesday, Povilas Poderskis, director of the Vilnius City Municipality Administration, presented the Vilnius Municipality’s plans to expand the infrastructure due to COVID-19. According to him, the second building of the Antakalnis Clinical Hospital will open in the near future and, if the number of illnesses increases, a temporary hospital will be planned at the Litexpo Exhibition Center.

When asked by the minister who could work in the temporary hospital in Vilnius, built near the Litexpo building, A. Veryga said that he could not answer, as it was a measure prepared and organized by the Municipality of Vilnius and advised to apply for it in the Municipality of Vilnius Vilnius.

“I have mentioned it many times, I can remind you once again of some important practical things. It is not enough to find a room and bring the beds there, the biggest challenge is the staff, who are not so easy to find.

Let’s remember in the spring when the infection control guidelines were introduced, how many challenges then arose for doctors in the regions, because it turned out that the same doctor works in several institutions.

A similar problem will arise here, because no one will actually train doctors during the day. Another challenge will be the infrastructure, the extraction of oxygen. The walls do not heal, the doctors heal. Despite the good wishes, it seems that it will not be easy for the municipality to implement such a plan, ”said the Minister.

Proposed no to hysteria

At the same time, Mr. Veryga spoke about the acquisition of the measures. Doctors complain that they don’t know what the state reserve is.

“We have heard many times that the public wants to know, even if there are some difficulties or risks. We don’t really hide it, we name those risks if they arise.

And none of them can emerge in the future. Lithuania does not produce the vast majority of tools itself, they must be purchased from world markets and we are not insured against any challenge or difficulty. The fact that threats are said or reported is not and should not be a pretext to cause panic in society, to name oneself in some way, to generate mistrust in state institutions.

I really want to invite you to focus, we don’t have to panic, hysteria. We are solving the problems that have arisen, in the future there will be more than one ”, said the Minister.

And D. Bakša assured that the situation of the tubes is under control and that there is not yet a critical situation.

“There are some negative signs when various suppliers said they could not deliver the required quantities. Once again, procurement procedures have stalled a bit. I mean, and that will probably only get more pronounced in the future. But we currently have tubes, more than 100,000 will arrive tomorrow. tubes. We will definitely have enough of this amount until we complete the public procurement procedures in accordance with the public procurement process started earlier, ”said D. Bakša.

Baksha said there are currently about 10,000 in the warehouse. And a restock will arrive at the lab on Friday. This afternoon there should already be 100,000.

Proposals for the purchase of vaccines will be presented soon

The minister also promised that Lithuania should receive an offer to buy the Pfizer vaccine in the near future. Lithuania should possess around 1.24 million of these vaccines.

In the future, if Europe can buy more, more vaccines will be bought. However, the biggest challenge at the moment is logistics, as the vaccine must be stored at extremely low temperatures.

The Minister also recalled that all people with psychological problems can visit the page helpasau.lt.

“The quarantine will probably last another week and, since it was in the spring, it will probably cause a lot of psychological challenges for society,” Veryga said.