Healthcare in Iceland under pressure after wave of infection

The number of new cases remains at a high level in Iceland, which has been hit by a wave of infections since mid-July. Yesterday, 119 new cases of illness were recorded. In total, Iceland has 1,302 active cases in a population of about 357,000 people. The number of disease cases calculated for every 100,000 residents reached 420 during the past two weeks, according to the statistics service Covid.is.

At the same time that Iceland ranks at the top of the world in terms of vaccination coverage – just over 80 percent of the population has received at least one injection and about 75 percent are fully vaccinated, according to Ourworldindata – There will be reports of a tense health care situation in the country. Last week, the National University Hospital warned of a lack of capacity and that patients were queuing to be admitted. Emergency rooms, which normally operate at around 100 percent of capacity, are now overburdened with new COVID-19 cases received in recent weeks.

Pal Mathiasson, President of the National University Hospital, said: – We are having difficulties with recruitment and the staff is exhausted. VG.

Hospital staff have been called on leave to return to work after concerns that more people may seek care in the future.

“If development continues in this direction, it is possible that we will reach our maximum potential,” said Kamilla S.

At the same time, Icelandic epidemiologist Thórólfur Gudnason points out that the vaccine prevents the spread of infections and serious diseases. It states that unvaccinated people are three times more likely to contract covid-19, four times more likely to be hospitalized and five times more likely to need intensive care during the current wave of infections.

The data clearly indicates that the vaccine makes it less likely to contract, spread and contract the virus. It should act as an encouragement for everyone to get vaccinated or complete their vaccinations if they haven’t, Thórólfur Gudnason said at a press conference on Thursday. Iceland review.

Currently 27 COVID patients are being cared for in the hospital. Four of those are on a ventilator. The average age of the inpatients is 64 years.

There are more than 1,700 people in quarantine in Iceland, most of them in the Reykjavik region.

On July 31, several restrictions were reimposed in the archipelago. Among other things, it is now mandatory to wear a mouthguard indoors at the same time as bars and restaurants must close at 11pm.

In August, vaccination of children aged 12-15 years began.

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