Only Eight Ventilators Available
Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon. Carvin Malone has painted a very grim picture of the Territory’s ability to care for severely ill COVID-19 patients.
He said during a live press conference on Tuesday, August 25 at Maria’s by The Sea, that persons are questioning him about the government’s decision not to allow laundromats, churches and money transfer (remittance businesses as he referred to it as) open during this initial partial lockdown period.
He explained that these entities could be breeding grounds for ‘clusters’ to take place.
“It is more difficult to practice that social distancing, even if it is not difficult to practice, we simply don’t practice it. So if for a seven day period, we can help the health team to finish their work, I think it is not too much to ask,” he said.
He added, “We need the time so that health teams can continue their work because I thought we had 11 of the ventilators with all the pieces, it comes to eight. So at the end of the day, if we come to a situation, where we see an increased need for this, eight is minuscule.”
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Irad Potter added, “Persons who would have to go on ventilators, usually have a very bad time with the disease and when they are able to leave the hospital they continue to have a bad time.”
He then vowed that the health teams would work hard to “try our best to try to arrest this situation as best we can because we don’t want to have one extreme patient.”
A ventilator is a machine that helps someone to breathe.
Many COVID-19 patients who have severe cases have had to be placed on the machine.
He explained that these entities could be breeding grounds for ‘clusters’ to take place.
“It is more difficult to practice that social distancing, even if it is not difficult to practice, we simply don’t practice it. So if for a seven day period, we can help the health team to finish their work, I think it is not too much to ask,” he said.
He added, “We need the time so that health teams can continue their work because I thought we had 11 of the ventilators with all the pieces, it comes to eight. So at the end of the day, if we come to a situation, where we see an increased need for this, eight is minuscule.”
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Irad Potter added, “Persons who would have to go on ventilators, usually have a very bad time with the disease and when they are able to leave the hospital they continue to have a bad time.”
He then vowed that the health teams would work hard to “try our best to try to arrest this situation as best we can because we don’t want to have one extreme patient.”
A ventilator is a machine that helps someone to breathe.
Many COVID-19 patients who have severe cases have had to be placed on the machine.
