Hospitalizations and intubations due to Covid-19 were increased over the week October 2-8 compared to the previous week, but the number of new infections stayed the same, according to the weekly coronavius report by the National Public Health Organisation (EODY), published on Thursday.
The increase of Covid-19 infections has mobilized the Health Ministry that is taking some emergency measures to deal with it.
Hospital admissions for coronavirus (974) increased last week and also spiked 23% overall compared to the average weekly for admissions during the last four weeks.
The number of new intubations (17) in the week of October 2-8 increased compared to the previous week and also in comparison to the average of new intubations in the last four weeks (13).
There are currenlty 38 Covid-patients intubated in Greek hospitals.
48-Covid patients have died in the reference week. Their median age 86 (age range: 75-101).
Weekly sampling of virus loads in urban waste in Greece showed a rise in SARS-CoV-2 in 3 of 9 regions checked.
The dominant variant is still the Kraken, while Eris is also steadily gaining ground.
Emergency measures
Greece’s health ministry is taking a series of emergency measures concerning both beds and medicines. The reason for the emergency measures by the National Health Service is the increase in cases and hospitalizations.
The Nursing Foundation of the Army Stock Fund (NIMTS) is proceeding with the provision of 50 hospital beds to the National Health Service to cover public health needs and thus for the period from 01.10.23 to 31.12.23.
Non-Covid-19 patients from other public hospitals of Attica will be transferred to 50 beds at NIMITS, in order to free up beds in the NHS for the treatment of coronavirus cases.
It is clarified in the relevant decision that patients are not burdened with medical fees and participation in hospitalizations, while the necessary daily medication burdens the EOPYY budget.
The NIMITS will be also part of the emergency services of the National Health Service.
At the same time, by decision of the Health Minister, Michalis Chrysochoidis, Greece procures 35,000 thousand additional preparations of the antiviral drug PAXLOVID, which is given to patients with COVID-19 who are at risk of being admitted to hospital.
According to EODY, the coronavirus has shown a significant increase in the last two weeks, leading to the hospitalization of 124 people, on average, every day.
During the last week of September, the number of patients who died increased significantly.
According to a report by medical news website iatropedia.gr and Pulmonology Professor who is responsible for the approval of antiviral treatments, Stelios Loukidis, the competent health authorities have been administering more than 750 antiviral drugs per day in the last week, to prevent hospitalizations for COVID-19.