Paris Hospitals Near Full Capacity As Severe Covid Cases Surge
Sumaira FH Published March 09, 2021 | 11:30 PM
Paris, March 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Mar, 2021 ) :Intensive care units at hospitals in the Paris region are nearly saturated with Covid-19 patients, health authorities warned Tuesday, with doctors now putting off non-urgent operations in order to free up more beds.
The surge in cases comes ahead of a government crisis meeting Wednesday, with officials hoping to avoid a new lockdown for the capital as the fast-spreading "British" variant of the coronavirus hits France.
A nationwide curfew of 6 pm is in place, and weekend shutdowns have been ordered for the northern Pas-de-Calais region, where transfers of Covid patients to less crowded hospitals began last week, and in the Mediterranean region surrounding Nice.
In Paris and its suburbs, 1,018 intensive care unit beds are filled of the 1,050 set aside for Covid patients, the ARS regional health authority said.
It is the first time the number has exceeded 1,000 since November 18, when France was still under the second nationwide lockdown since the crisis erupted last February.
Officials will now postpone 40 percent of non-urgent operations in order to have a total of 1,577 beds available for Covid cases soon, the agency said.
"I'm not saying we need a lockdown but we need to be aware of the consequences of the current strategy: We're saturated, the numbers keep climbing and we're sending patients elsewhere as much as we can," Stephane Gaudry, an intensive care doctor at the Avicenne hospital north of Paris, told AFP.
Overall, France now counts 3,918 Covid patients in intensive care, compared with a peak of 4,900 during the second wave of cases last autumn, and more than 7,000 at the height of the crisis last spring.
But Jerome Salomon, head of the French health authority, reiterated Tuesday that a lockdown for the Paris region "is not currently on the table".
"This is a last resort, and would be proposed to the government and the president if we thought hospitals would not be able to hold up and we were at risk of not being able to take in serious cases," he told RTL radio.
Authorities recorded 299 Covid deaths in the past 24 hours on Tuesday, bringing the country's total to more than 89,000.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
PM to take part in World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh today
Punjab Police officer Riffat Bukhari wins global award
Punjab Police Hero ASP Shehbano Naqvi’s wedding festivities spark joy
TECNO CAMON 30 Series set to launch at a grand fashion show in Karachi
Record growth being witnessed in IT exports due to SIFC’s efforts
Pakistan, Canada agree to enhance cooperation in all fields
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 27 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 27 April 2024
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
1 day ago -
Kite Flying: From cultural festival to deadly sport
1 day ago -
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
4 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
5 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
6 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
6 days ago
-
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
6 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
6 days ago -
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
8 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
12 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
13 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
13 days ago