Worst situation in Belgrade, don't make contacts for 10 days: We consume monthly oxygen in one day

Minister of Health Zlatibor Loncar held a meeting with directors of Covid hospitals today after which he said that as much oxygen is being consumed on a daily basis in hospitals as in a month in regular conditions.

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"The situation is currently the worst in Belgrade, the largest number of patients, the greatest pressure on the healthcare system, we are opening new capacities every day in order to be able to take care of everyone who needs help in the hospital. In order for people to understand what it is about and what it all looks like, in one day we spend as  much oxygen on patients in hospitals as we spend on ordinary occasions in more than a month. One hospital, which treats Covid patients, consumes over 5 tons of oxygen per day. This is normal monthly consumption. You can calculate all that for medicines, for everything that is necessary for those patients to do, and test, laboratories, X-rays... Everything that implies treatment and monitoring of such a patient," said Loncar.

The minister recalled that since yesterday, KBC Zemun is in the whole Covid system again.

"Our assessment today is that it could serve us for a day or a day and a half. What we can open next is that we will open the Pancevo hospital in the next day, day and a half, and after that we don't have any hospital to open and add to the Covid system. We agreed that this time we will not turn the Banjica Institute into a Covid hospital, for extremely practical reasons. It can happen to us today that icy rain falls, and that we have dozens of fractures, without anyone to take care of them," said Loncar and added that this is done because of patients who need operations on their knees, hips and all those who are waiting for surgery.

After the Zemun and Pancevo hospitals are filled, then patients from Belgrade will have to go to hospitals in other places in Serbia:

"Just so there' no surprises. That will be our reality. We want to help everyone. During the weekend, patients went to Smederevo, Pozarevac... There was no place in Belgrade."

The minister stressed that they will do their best to help every citizen of Serbia, but that they must understand the situation and respect the measures.

"Understand that our capacities and our system are not something that can withstand unlimited numbers. It is disrespectful towards these people, all the nurses, technicians, the serving staff, cleaners... Have you ever wondered what it's like for people in hospitals, whose temperature is not dropping, who are fighting for air, whose lungs are getting worse? Which are one step away from ventilators? Please, for several days. Let's stop contacts for 10 days. Let's stop the growth of numbers. We are not wizards, we are not magicians. This cannot be stopped until we all act in utmost solidarity and unity to help each other," said Loncar and asked the media to influence people because the only thing that will save us is to have no contacts.

"Wear a mask. Keep your distance. Don't make contacts. Let's last 10 days. Forget parties, celebrations, birthdays. Wear a mask in transport, indoors, wash your hands, is it that hard?"

As for the capacities, he said that about 300 spots were created in Belgrade.

"Reviews show growth literally hour by hour compared to previous days. The Infectious Diseases Clinic already has about 300 examinations a day, if not more. We passed a total of 3,000 examinations. We are opening new Covid clinics. We are opening a triage center in Zemun. Those capacities have their limit, you can go to one, then not. Don't be angry afterwards. Because, direct non-compliance with the measure leads to the collapse of the system. We have been making appeals for days. We no longer have the strength to be angry with anyone. If citizens can understand that, if you can help, it would mean a lot, if not, we will fight as much as we can," said the minister of health.

(Telegraf.rs)