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Starting next Wednesday, the pressure on hospitals will increase. According to estimates from the Ricardo Jorge National Institute of Health, On October 28, the maximum number of Covid-19 patients hospitalized in intensive care units will be exceeded in the first wave (271). According to the calculations of this institute, Until November 4, 2,634 patients will be hospitalized for Covid-19, of which 444 in intensive care – 972 more are hospitalized in the ward and 204 in the ICU than those registered in the epidemiological bulletin this Monday.
“I am not saying that on the 4th we will have the worst case scenario, I am saying that the calculations will continue until November 4 and that day 4 brings a highly complex scenario”, Reveals the minister. “Are we going to be able to respond to that day 4? We will have, but already with great complexity, what will be our need for adaptations ”, he adds.
Marta Temido explained that “in recent days there has been a growing trend in the number of patients with Covid-19 hospitalized and in intensive care”, but warns that there will be an increase “in hospitalizations and even deaths in the coming weeks”, Given the fragility of the population over 85 years of age.
The Minister of Health announced that there has been a “Increase in the number of cases in all age groups, with expression of the group ranging from 20 to 39 years and in people older than 85 years”. In the week of October 12 to 18, “the maximums were exceeded in almost all age groups in terms of new cases” and the notification rate for the group older than 85 years exceeded the maximum observed in the week of 20 to April 26, “One of the most complicated weeks” since the pandemic began, Marta Temido said.
SNS with more than 17 thousand beds available for Covid-19
In view of this increased pressure on hospitals, the Minister of Health announced that The NHS has 19,778 beds available in general hospitals, of which 17,741 may be available for Covid-19 patients. Of this total, 5,905 beds are in the Northern Regional Health Administration (ARS), 3,807 in the ARS Centro, 6,420 in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, 792 in the ARS do Alentejo and 817 in the Algarve. However, Marta Temido warned that “this capacity is affecting other treatments.”
Source: SNS
How much Regarding the capacity to respond to the rising peaks, the minister indicated that there are 17,225 beds available in the infirmary and 852 in the intensive care units. “This is the Maximum capacity“Highlighted Marta Temido, explaining that it is an” already very extreme situation of preparation to respond to peaks of influx. ” Portugal also has 1,889 fans available, 747 more than in March.
The Health Minister said that, at the moment, there are 2,120 beds available to treat Covid-19 patients (1,802 in the ward and 318 in the ICU). “Overall bed capacity is managed according to response needs. and find the best possible balance between what the needs are ”, concluded the minister, stating that this capacity“ is dynamic and flexible to manage ”.
Marta Temido stated that, “Although the Portuguese are better prepared to respond to the pandemic and so is the NHS, the situation is complex and serious”. “No health system has elastic capacity and that is why we must preserve the response capacity of our hospitals,” stressed the Minister of Health, stating that the Ministry of Health is prepared to “refer users who do not have an answer in the SNS , to the private and social sector ”.
The Minister of Health also assured that if necessary, the Ministry of Health “will manage between regions” to ensure a ready response from the NHS. “The regions are not closed,” said Marta Temido.
More than 5,000 health professionals hired in the first nine months of the year
Marta Temido recalled that, in the fight against the pandemic, “beds are not enough”, highlighting the reinforcement that was also made in terms of human resources.
The Minister of Health highlights the “clear evolution of the reinforcement of personnel in the SNS between 2015 and 2019”, with another 15,425 “net personnel”. Additionally, In the group of all health professionals, a reinforcement was made with another 5,459 effects between December 31 and September 2020.
Source: SNS
Regarding doctors, 548 new doctors were hired in the first nine months of the year and a total of 3,710 between 2015 and 2019. Regarding nurses, 1,727 were hired between December 31, 2019 and September 2020 and 6,689 between 2015 and 2019.
The current daily test average is 24,397
Regarding the capacity of the laboratory, current test average is 24,397 tests per day. In March, this average was 2,578 daily tests.
Until now, the daily test peak was recorded on October 20, with 32,717 tests performed, of which 10.9 percent had a positive result. In total, more than three million tests have already been carried out. Portugal is on the list of the ten European countries with the highest proportion of tests per million inhabitants, with an estimated rate of 309,900 tests.
Regarding the StatAway Covid app, SNS data shows that more than 2.4 million downloads, but only 566 codes were entered.
Government prepared to “cover new municipalities with more restrictive measures”
At the end of the press conference, Marta Temido added that the Government is prepared, “in the context of the state of calamity and based on risk assessments, to cover possible new municipalities with more restrictive measures to reduce the number of contacts and help the country to control this new growth in transmission ”.
“Depending on the risk assessment of each municipality and territory, we can aggravate the measures, as we did with Lousada, Paços de Ferreira and Felgueiras. This evaluation is done and there may be more serious measures now enacted.”Asserted Marta Temido.
