The number of corona infections is increasing sharply in Brabant. There are now 202 patients in hospitals in Brabant, which is the highest number since April. Most of the patients are in the nursing ward, 12 people are in intensive care. This is evident from the provincial corona dashboard.
The number of corona infections is also rising rapidly in other places in the Netherlands. This fall, the government launched a corona thermometer. The four positions indicate how great the pressure on society and healthcare is due to the virus. That thermometer was at the lowest level and is now being raised by the cabinet to level 2. This means that vulnerable groups in particular are at greater risk.
Vulnerable people are emphatically called upon to get the repeat shot, says Minister Kuipers. The thermometer can go up to 4, which means that the impact is ‘very high’ on healthcare and society and that the consequences are noticeable for everyone.
Staff shortage
Previously, healthcare workers walked on tiptoe for months. After that, some of the staff were exhausted. In addition, there is also a shortage of personnel in the healthcare sector.
The hospitals in Brabant are prepared for an increase in the number of patients, and scenarios are ready based on the earlier waves. “As far as we know now, all hospitals in Brabant can handle a new wave,” says a spokesperson for the Regional Consultation Acute Care (ROAZ). “Some of the patients who are now in hospital have not been admitted because of corona, but are there with other complaints and also have corona.”
The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) also calls on people over 70 and people with health problems to have the repeat shot. These people are also advised to avoid crowded places as much as possible, and to wear medical face masks if it is difficult to keep 1.5 meters away from others.