Status: 01/23/2023 7:00 a.m
A trend reversal is evident in Germany’s clinics: According to this, the number of corona patients in intensive care units has halved from around 1,500 to less than 800 since January. The number of daily new admissions is also falling.
In view of the wave of respiratory diseases and corona infections, the clinics and intensive care units in Germany are experiencing a reduced workload. Since the beginning of January, the number of corona patients in the intensive care units has “reduced from around 1,500 to less than 800 today – i.e. almost halved,” said the Vice President of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI), Gernot Marx, the editorial network Germany (RND).
“Corona is no longer a problem in the intensive care units,” he emphasized. In addition, the number of daily new admissions is falling steadily. This is a “very positive development,” said Marx.
Personnel situation in clinics slowly improved
Now “the many postponed, plannable operations from December could be made up for,” added the DIVI Vice President. It is true that the wards are always full in winter. “But at the moment we don’t have to think every day about how we can still ensure the care of patients, but actually go to a service knowing that we can help,” said Marx.
According to the German Hospital Society, occupancy is also decreasing on the normal wards. “We are seeing a significant drop in occupancy rates among corona-positive patients. With the waning of the flu epidemic, relaxation can also be expected here,” said CEO Gerald Gass to the RND. “Above all, the number of sick employees is falling, so that the personnel situation is slowly improving.”
Doctors’ representatives for the end of the mask requirement in practices
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) and the German General Practitioners Association, like other industry representatives, have meanwhile called for an end to the mask requirement in practices. “It is logical to lift the mask requirement in medical practices and other medical facilities, as Bavaria has now announced. The other federal states should follow this step,” said KBV chairman Andreas Gassen of the editorial network Germany (RND). “The pandemic situation is over.”
The deputy federal chair of the general practitioners’ association, Nicola Buhlinger-Göpfarth, told the RND: “In our view, there is no need for the legislature to wear a mask in doctor’s offices.” The practices should decide this independently. Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach rejects a quick end to the mask requirement in the healthcare sector. He justifies this with the protection of particularly vulnerable people.