The hospital center in Cifco only has space for five people who require this type of intention. The hospital maintains approximately 400 people admitted. According to the infectologist Iván Solano Leiva, “unfortunately we are heading for a resurgence of cases”
The case curve begins to rise and resemble June. The official data on the number of people positive for the virus is 265 new cases per day, a figure identical to that of June 29, when a peak of confirmed cases of the disease began, when the health system collapsed due to lack of beds for people with respiratory conditions, including COVID-19.
Six months ago, Intensive Care Units and health professionals were out of reach in the face of the wave of infections; now, the legs with Intensive Care Units of the Hospital El Salvador are about to collapse, with 95 of their capacity, in a care center that still does not meet the ideal conditions. Among them, it does not yet have an operating room service for people with COVID-19, who need surgery for complications of the disease.
“For this day (Tuesday) in Hospital El Salvador: ICU beds: 92% occupancy, of a total of beds: 105. ICU beds (Intermediate Care Unit): 80% occupancy, of a total of beds: 143. General beds: 29% occupancy, out of a total of beds: 700 ”, said the infectologist Iván Solano Leiva on his Twitter account.
Which means that there are only about five beds left with intensive care units for people who require it, while 100 beds would already be occupied, of which probably are enabled for the 80 people in critical condition reported by the Government.
Interior of El Salvador Hospital. / Photo EDH Archive
While of the beds with Intermediate Care Units, those for people who probably need oxygen to cope with the symptoms of the new Coronavirus, 114 are used and there is only room for 29 people.
Contrasting the data provided by the doctor and the official data of the Government, it is identified that the patients who are suffering from the disease seriously are 379, of which 114 may be in the Intermediate Care Unit and another 203 people occupy the general income of the hospital. for COVID-19, located at the International Center for Fairs and Conventions (CIFCO).
In total, there are approximately 417 people admitted to El Salvador Hospital. In addition to these patients, there are more Salvadorans hospitalized at Rosales Hospital, who remain occupying beds with the Intensive Care Unit, due to their severity.
In five months, El Salvador Hospital reported 928 deaths from COVID-19 and atypical pneumonia.
“Unfortunately, we are heading for a resurgence of COVID-19 cases and the front-line staff will have no rest this Christmas. The memory of the Salvadoran is short and we relax, both the population and the Ministry of Health, and we do not follow protocols “, said the infectologist Solano Leiva.
Health neglected health promotion and prevention
For doctor Mariano Chávez Andino and infectologist Jorge Panameño, it is important to prioritize prevention campaigns before the increase in new cases of COVID-19, campaigns that in his opinion were neglected by the Ministry of Health and other entities state.
“The cases are increasing progressively, we are reaching a point where it is likely that we will lead to a very high number of cases and that the health system will be saturated again,” said the intensivist Chávez Andino.
While the infectologist Jorge Panameño argued that there had been little surveillance by the health authorities since October, when doctors began warning of a rise in suspicious cases and care for COVID-19.
“We have always drawn attention to the little or no surveillance by the relevant authorities,” said Jorge Panameño, during a television interview.
Given the increase in cases of COVID-19, both health specialists express their concern and daily hope that, after nine months of pandemic, it has remedied and corrected the mistakes and failures that were committed during the first outbreak of cases of the illness in terms of the Personal Protection Team for health workers who are at the forefront of the fight against the disease.
According to figures from the “Salvador Allende” Health Movement, until December 15, 156 deaths of health workers who lost the battle against the virus will be counted.
In the last seven days, 45 people have died from COVID-19, including two doctors, two nurses and a pharmacy technician who have lost their lives due to the disease.