The head of the Department of Intrahospital Infection Control and Epidemiology, Dr. Rebecca Guerin, pointed out that the Hospital has been experiencing increases in cases for three weeks, but that it coincides with what is happening at the national level. He quoted that Asunción is with a level three of transmission and Greater Asunción with a level twowhich means that we are on alert, because it can go to a community level that is already level four.
“In the hospital we realize the increase in respiratory symptoms in the adult contingency area, in the pediatric area and especially hospitalizations. Today we have 11 adults hospitalized with covid-19 and in the pediatric area we have three patients with positive resultswhile we were only having one to two cases last week”, he highlighted, detailing that one of the hospitalized adult patients is very serious and the others are moderate to severe.
He commented that in view of this scenario they are rethinking the use of surgical masks by all staff, family members and patients that do not have contraindications, within the healthcare area and throughout the institution. He anticipated that also visits would be restricted, despite the fact that he said it is in a festive season and that the patient requires emotional support.
Related note: New York recommends reusing masks in public places
He added that there will be visiting hours and that will have to be respected. I also knowIt will be limited to a single companion per patient during hospitalization and these must not present respiratory symptoms. On the other hand, he urged the officials of the FCM-UNA and the Hospital de Clínicas not to come to work with respiratory symptoms.
He indicated that employees must consult and inform their immediate superior and ensure their clinical improvement above all. In addition, he pointed out that it is essential to avoid crowds within the institution and even in the community, maintain distance and catch up with the covid-19 and influenza vaccines, in terms of meetings, he said that they can be held again virtually , but stressed that it is an advantage that students are already on vacation.
The entrance Clinics evaluate returning to the use of masks and restricting visits during the festive season was first published on newspaper TODAY.
