Paraguay has reached 100% occupancy of intensive care beds due to COVID-19 and they analyze barracks attendance

Paraguay has reached full occupancy of intensive care beds due to the resurgence of COVID-19 infections, as the government works to create new spaces and assesses the expansion of medical care to barracks.

“Of the 655 beds in the public sector and integrated hospitals, there are currently 655 occupied beds. It’s a 100% occupation“Said Leticia Pintos, Director General of Health Networks and Services, at a press conference.

Pintos confirmed that the capacity of the so-called resuscitation rooms was also full. “Of the 92 beds installed outside intensive care, called intensive care rooms, they are also 100% occupied “he added.

The health portfolio ‘works hard’ for add more therapy beds, inpatient and resuscitation rooms, and the provision of services is expected in the coming days, Pintos said. This Saturday, 42 hospital beds were activated, of which 30 were immediately occupiedsaid the official.

“We have to take care of ourselves,” said Pintos, who urged citizens to stay home and not attend social events that could worsen the high level of infections, which had been skyrocketing for about 10 days. . “It is important to take into account during your outings, please keep the distance measurements, the use of masks. We insist once again on care, because we are really in a complex situation, ”he admitted.

In Paraguay, 192,599 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded so far this Saturday and a total of 3,695 deaths, including 33 in the past 24 hours, out of a population of 7 million.

On Friday, the country received 36,000 vaccines from AstraZeneca through the Covax mechanism, supported by the World Health Organization. The batch comes in addition to 20,000 doses of Chinese Sinovac donated by Chile a week ago and 4,000 Sputnik V purchased from Russia, which will immunize 90% of medical and paramedical personnel fighting the pandemic, according to the Minister of Health, Julio Borba.

Possible treatment in barracks

Hernán Martínez, deputy minister of the health portfolio, stressed that the armed forces have offered to equip their barracks to treat the sick.

“The possibility of creating military centers is analyzed, those which in principle had been used (in 2020) as shelters (for the quarantine of travelers from abroad), to increase the beds in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense“, he underlined.

According to Martínez, the medical personnel of the armed forces “would help to equip more beds, so as to continue to provide care to the patients”.

Television images showed the overflow of the Hospital de Clínicas, dependent on the Faculty of Medicine of the National University, where those who arrive are placed in chairs and armchairs in the corridors awaiting beds. “We are in a very critical situation. Hospitals are practically at the top, intensive therapies too. It keeps workingMartinez pointed out.

(With information from AFP)

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