Coronavirus in Mendoza: “We are on the verge of collapse and very tired”, report the doctors

MENDOZA.- It is a repeated story, but with an uncertain ending. In less than a year, the worst images of the coronavirus pandemic “class =” com-link “data-reactroot =” “>coronavirus in the country of Cuyo it is repeated but with a second wave showing a more ferocious side. To give, Hospitals in Mendoza are starting to overflow, while doctors and patients juggle to win the battle against Covid-19 and warn of the complex scenario that follows.

“The whole of Covid explodes; we are on the verge of collapse and very tired “, he said THE NATION, a doctor at El Carmen Hospital, a reference center for the social assistance of public employees (OSEP), while preparing to go to another hospital where he offers his services. “The second wave was brutal all over the world and we will have to endure another year, with few tests and few vaccines,” he said.

In that effector of the commune of Godoy Cruz, there are already patients who are being treated in guards and corridors. Moreover, a pavilion has been set up outside, in the parking lot, where the situation is chaotic and dramatic for those who are hospitalized there. “The place is disgusting; a tent, under the rays of the sun, sharing a bathroom with more than 20 people. If you are a little better, it saturates oxygen better, leaves you on the stretcher and crosses your fingers to survive; The therapy beds are all occupied, ”cried one of the people in Mendoza who was sitting in this area of ​​the outdoor effector, where a few days before he stood in line for 12 hours to be tested for coronavirus.

In private health centers the scenario is the same, with the latent concern of the need for more staff to deal with the emergency, beyond the lack of space. Thus, the occupancy of critical beds is almost 100% in most health units in the province, according to the latest report of the Ministry of Health in the province. “The second wave had a sudden, explosive behavior. We have a high occupancy rate. There are times when we have 90% and there are times when we are in full swing. We ask that we take care of everything. “, indicated the Minister of Health of Mendoza, Ana Maria Nadal.

Due to the increase in the number of infections, Mendoza adds more intensive care beds

In this scenario, The local executive is looking to expand the space so that more people receive medical care. In fact, this Monday the first part of a work that envisions 34 beds of Intensive Care in total at the Central Hospital, the main health center in Mendoza Mare, for an investment of 150 million dollars. Of those new beds that are incorporated, seven were already occupied on Saturday night.

This increase in beds supports a strengthened health system to respond to the pandemic and continue with the balance of health and economy strategy pursued by the province during the pandemic “, said the official, referring to the “on-off” scheme that Governor Rodolfo Suarez (UCR) has ordered, with fewer restrictions than Nación.

Regarding the functioning of the system and human resources, Nadal rejected the words of President Alberto Fernández about the “relaxation” of the health area. “I do not see any relaxation. I can’t understand what the president meant. The health system never relaxed, it acted with absolute responsibility “. He also stressed that “he is making a great commitment at this time, with a great effort that goes beyond his daily task, with a strong commitment.” The Minister also indicated that the operation of some pediatric hospitals is being studied and the possibility of reversing their operation, such as Humberto Notti, who has already started to have special spaces for adults with Covid-19.

Meanwhile, the vaccination campaign begins to reactivate this week, with his arrival 35,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine“class =” com-link “data-reactroot =” “>AstraZeneca vaccine, after administering all doses on Thursday, inoculating the group of people over the age of 70. In any case, there are over 50,000 people in Mendoza over the age of 60 who are still waiting for the doses, in accordance with the official registration system. There is also great concern among teachers and other people under the age of 60 with pre-existing illnesses due to delays in Argentina in obtaining immunizations.

Since the pandemic reached the province of Mendoza in March 2020, they have existed 81,955 positive cases of Covid-19. Meanwhile, 1,631 deaths were found, while 77,371 people managed to recover.