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The canton of Zurich has reported. Image: keystone
The 7 most important points about the situation in Zurich hospitals
“The situation is serious, but we have it under control.” Government Councilor Natalie Rickli said about the situation in the canton of Zurich. Those are the seven most important points from today’s press conference.
How is the situation in the canton of Zurich
Yesterday 1,082 new infections were registered in the canton of Zurich. Natalie Rickli, government councilor for the canton of Zurich, says the canton has the situation under control. However, the situation is dire.
Hospitals made good use of the time. Additional staff have been trained: 86 to be precise. By the end of the year, 106 more nurses will have been trained for intensive care units. Additional fans were also purchased. This allows hospitals to cope with the upcoming additional admissions to the best of their ability.
Health Director Natalie Rickli. Image: keystone
The health directorate still gives hospitals a go-ahead. Coordination and communication between them work well, says the government councilor. Electoral interventions are not currently prohibited and hospitals are trusted.
This is what concrete numbers look like
Yesterday at 2:30 pm 221 people were in the hospital because of the corona virus, 26 of them in the intensive care unit. 21 need artificial respiration.
There would still be enough beds availablesays Jörg Gruber, Head of the Supply Planning Department, Zurich Health Directorate. Specifically: Around 400 hospital beds are free, 48 of them in the intensive care unit. These capabilities can be expanded by a factor of 1.5.
But if nothing changes, the situation will soon be very stressful, warns Gruber. If the number of cases continues to rise, 400 people would need a hospital bed in four weeks. The reason: the number of hospitalizations is about 2-3 weeks behind the number of cases.
Jörg Gruber. Image: keystone
That’s the three phase plan
The Zurich health department and the hospitals follow a three-phase plan. This looks like this:
Phase 1
With their own organization, hospitals ensure sufficient capacities. If necessary, they can suspend voting and activate additional specialized personnel. You can also coordinate capabilities with other hospitals. The health department could step in to help, but that “was not necessary yet.”
Phase 2
As soon as hospitals reach their limits, the second phase begins. The distribution of resources in hospitals is activated. Hospitals without intensive care units will become hospitals with intensive care units. When 270 intensive care units are occupied, the third phase will be announced.
Phase 3
Here it is checked whether the patients can be distributed to other cantons. Foreign specialists can also be hired if necessary. There is the possibility of installing emergency hospitals here. The military may also be involved.
Why mortality is lower
According to hospital experts, mortality in Zurich is lower than in the first wave. You have learned from the first wave and now you know how to treat corona patientssays Gregor Zünd, President of the Hospital Directorate of the University Hospital Zurich. The ventilation strategy and also the medication have improved. Only in an emergency, the person should be transferred to the intensive care unit.
Gregor Zünd. Image: keystone
Why the treatment time has decreased
For the reasons mentioned above, the treatment time, that is, the time it takes for a person to be discharged from the hospital, would have been shortened. This has a direct impact on the capabilities of the hospital. If the treatment time is short, the beds will be free for those who need them more quickly.
Asymptomatic staff can continue working
“When you have to quarantine staff, there are bottlenecks,” says Thomas Brack, director of the Limmattal hospital. Therefore, it has been possible for two weeks to call staff who are quarantined but not showing any symptoms to return to work.
Thomas Brack. Image: keystone
But this would only happen if there was a severe staff shortage. So far this has only been the case in exceptional cases, say the other hospital directors. Symptomatic personnel and those who have tested positive do not have to be removed from quarantine at this time.
When working, it is always assumed that the patient and the employee are corona-positive. That’s why the protection concepts would work, according to Rolf Zehnder, Director of the Cantonal Hospital Winterthur.
Non-Covid patients must also go to hospitals.
“Anyone who needs the hospital should come to the hospital,” says Zehnder. “We are there for all patients.” The population should not give up a visit to the hospital out of fear or false consideration. In the summer, heart attacks and strokes were missed for these reasons – that shouldn’t be it, says Zehnder.
Protection concepts work. Zehnder estimates that the probability of being infected in the hospital is very low, less than in the bus.
Rolf Zehnder. Image: keystone
“We don’t need applause.”
“We need everyone,” appeal from the health department and hospitals. “That is why we all have to comply with the measures now.” Younger patients in their 20s and 40s are also hospitalized. Therefore, it is not only those over 80 who need treatment.
Rickli also addresses the population: “Keep your distance, avoid contacts”says the health director.
Hospitals don’t want praise. “We don’t need applause,” says Zehnder. “We need the discipline of the population.”
(cki)
