4 inter-district centers for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 have been created in the Vitebsk region
– In the Vitebsk region, the rise in the incidence of coronavirus infection in 2022 began in the second week and marked the beginning of the fifth wave of COVID-19, – said Mikhail Vishnevetsky, Head of the Main Department of Healthcare of the Regional Executive Committee. – A stable growth trend is observed. Over the past week, the incidence has increased by 89.45% compared to the previous one. The incidence of acute respiratory infections and pneumonia has resumed growth – by 49% and 48.9%, respectively. In the region, 15.8% of beds from the total fund have been repurposed, and in the regional center – 21%. It should be noted that hospitalization is not proceeding at the same pace as in the previous wave, although the need for additional beds still exists. An increasing trend in morbidity among the child population is noted – from 1.9% before the epidemic outbreak to 9.6% over the past week. Among the sick children, there is a larger percentage of the younger age group. Currently, a total of 122 children are hospitalized in the region, of which 47 are in the Vitebsk Regional Children's Clinical Center.
In Vitebsk, three healthcare institutions are currently fully repurposed to provide medical care in an infectious disease hospital mode, and three are partially repurposed. Inter-district centers have been created for the treatment of patients infected with coronavirus, these are the Orsha Central Polyclinic, Polotsk and Novopolotsk Central City and Glubokoye Central District Hospitals. Six central district hospitals provide scheduled care in the usual mode, and 11 – for patients with COVID-19 within infectious disease departments.
Specialists believe that the high contagiousness of the virus is a characteristic feature of the 5th wave. At the same level of coronavirus infection incidence, the number of patients requiring hospitalization is approximately three times lower than in the 4th wave. Also, the number of clinically severe forms requiring intensive care unit admission and artificial lung ventilation is approximately three times lower. If in the 4th wave the average number of daily hospitalized patients exceeded 300 people, today it is three times less, so the main burden falls on the outpatient clinic system.
Since February 5, clinics have been operating not only on Saturdays but also on Sundays. Mikhail Vishnevetsky provided the following figures: one doctor on Sunday saw from 15 to 50 patients, and made from 5 to 17 house calls. The need for additional staff arose: 142 intern doctors, 107 students from VSMU, and 56 students from medical colleges were involved in the work. The teaching staff provides consultations via telemedicine as needed.
Currently, healthcare institutions are fully equipped with equipment, PPE, and disinfectants, and are staffed with trained medical personnel; additional transport assistance is needed. This and other issues were addressed at the headquarters meeting.