On yesterday’s first day of the new lockdown, the number of corona patients in Austria’s hospitals exceeded the 3000 mark. This is already proving to be true, what Upper Austria’s Deputy Governor. Christine Haberlander (VP) announced at the end of last week: “We have tough and demanding weeks ahead of us.” Because, according to expert forecasts, it will take around ten to 14 days for the lockdown to take effect and for relief in the hospitals, especially in the intensive care units, to occur as a result.
Of the 3054 corona patients reported nationwide in the hospitals yesterday, 562 were in an intensive care unit. At the same time, the ministries reported 13,806 new cases, the highest Monday value of new infections within 24 hours. A week ago, 11,889 new infections were registered. The number of confirmed active cases rose to 152,984 at the beginning of the week, almost as many as the city of Salzburg has inhabitants.
Critical phase
The situation in Upper Austria and Salzburg is particularly critical. In Salzburg yesterday, 38 people had to be treated in intensive care units, more than ever before.
In Upper Austria’s hospitals – as of yesterday evening – 123 patients were in an intensive care unit. AGES has announced new forecast calculations for today. Haberlander assumes that the previous maximum value for intensive care – that was 152 patients on December 1 of the previous year – will be exceeded. “From the current point of view, it is very likely that this will happen. The dampening effects of the lockdown always come with a time lag. That is why it will still be a difficult, bitter time,” says Haberlander. The latest AGES calculations have forecast 153 intensive care patients in Upper Austria for November 27th, and 172 patients on December 1st could even exceed the 170-bed mark. It was indeed possible that the actual surfacing numbers were recently below the AGES forecast, according to Haberlander. But even she does not think it is impossible that the 170 beds will be reached.
Preparations for an increasing number of intensive care patients are in progress, so-called stage 4 of the intensive care plan is being prepared. This means that of the total of 333 intensive care beds in the country’s hospitals, 154 are reserved for Covid patients. There are currently 127 Covid intensive care beds at level 3a.
Source From: Nachrichten
