Dr. Adzic: If we randomly tested for coronavirus, every other person would be positive

"We have the number patients that's the same as at the time of the opening of the Covid Hospital in December 2020"

Photo: Tanjug/AP

The director of the Covid hospital in Batajnica, Tatjana Adzic Vukicevic, says that 323 patients have been hospitalized in that institution in just five days. We have the number patients that's the same as at the time of the opening of the Covid Hospital in December 2020, but I am glad that there is no increase in patients in intensive care units, says the director of the Covid hospital in Batajnica.

Judging by the number of new cases, the epidemiological situation can be assessed as difficult. However, taking into account the severity of clinical pictures, and hospitalizations - a large number of those infected fortunately is not accompanied by a large number of hospitalized people.

Is the shortening of quarantine and the dominance of the Omicron strain in our environment an indication of a situation that is calming down and of the end of the epidemic, or could the virus surprise us again?

The director of the Covid hospital in Batajnica told RTS that data from this hospital differs from other hospitals, and that 516 patients are currently cared for there.

"In just five days, 323 people were hospitalized. A lot of patients got hospitalized yesterday - 79. We have the number patients that's the same as at the time of the opening of the Covid Hospital in December 2020," stressed Adzic Vukicevic.

She said she is glad that there is no increase in patients in intensive care units, currently there are 54 patients there, of whom 38 have been intubated.

She added that patients now spend less time in the hospital.

When it comes to the structure of patients, she said that it is completely different compared to January 6 and December last year, now it's mostly elderly patients and those in terminal stages of malignant diseases.

"We have patients who are waiting for surgery, who are positive for Covid and are waiting to have surgery, we have mothers and pregnant women, whose condition is heading toward recovery," says Adzic Vukicevic.

She stressed that genome sequencing is very expensive and cannot be done for all patients, but that the clinical pictures are clear, the length of hospitalization of those infected with the Omicron strain is 5.6 days, which is shorter compared to the Delta strain.

The doctor noted that two more semi-intensive care units were opened recently and that 12 are currently used, but fortunately they did not have to open more intensive care units.

She stressed that many doctors and nurses are currently infected, and that if tests were performed randomly, every other person would be positive.

"I am optimistic, if everyone says that the end of the epidemic is near, we must believe it," Adzic Vukicevic said and added that Omicron definitely gives much milder clinical pictures.

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(Telegraf.rs)