In an interview with CNN, Rio de Janeiro’s municipal secretary of health, Daniel Soranz, said that, given the advancement of the Ômicron variant, the number of hospitalizations for Covid-19 has been increasing in the capital.
The secretary said that, regarding Covid beds, “there is still an occupancy rate of 51%. It has been increasing very fast, our occupancy rate. We had less than 10% of Covid-19 beds occupied”.
Soranz also explained that hospitalizations are mainly among patients who have not taken the Covid-19 vaccine.
Regarding the unlocking of hospital beds in the federal network requested from the Ministry of Health, the secretary said that he awaits a response from the folder.
“We still haven’t received any response to our request from the Ministry of Health. Today there are 941 federal beds closed in the capital,” said Soranz.
Leaves due to Covid-19
The high transmissibility of the Ômicron variant and the increase in the number of cases of Covid and Influenza has also affected the staff of health professionals in Rio de Janeiro.
“It is a very complex situation. In this month of January alone, 4,800 professionals had to be removed. Fortunately, many have already returned to their activity”, said the secretary of health.
To make up for the deficit in the workforce, 1,200 new professionals have already been hired and another 400 are expected to be hired.
Also due to the increase in cases, the state suspended elective surgeries (planned in advance). According to Soranz, the objective is to contain the contamination in this group of patients.
* Under supervision of Rafaela Lara
Reference: CNN Brasil
