22,500 patients visited Sarajevo Canton Health Center's COVID clinics in 14 days

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Director of the Sarajevo Canton Public Health Institute, Aida Pilav, pointed out that there has been a 33 percent increase in infections in the past week.

“We are concerned that in these six weeks, the number of deaths has been 132, which is 20 percent of the total deaths in this pandemic of 636. The largest number of deaths are aged 61 and over. We have never had these numbers of people on machines (respirators, oxygen, NIV). We need space, time, people are tired,” said Pilav.

Analyzing the situation in November and now, Pilav said that there is no significant difference in the number of infected people, but it is a “more malignant” strain. In the earlier strain, we had 528 infected people daily, and 610 in the new wave.

“This is a crucial moment, strict adherence to measures, and I hope this emergency session will result in good measures. The high number of deaths, the large number of people in hospitals, and the pressure on health centers represent a big problem,” said Pilav.

Acting Director of the Health Center JU, Amela Kečo, said that she would refer to the period from March 2nd.

“Our institution has been providing care to patients at the primary level for a year now. Until March 1st, we covered the clinics in Ušivaj, Blažuj, and Delijaše. The data from the last 14 days is alarming. In our five COVID clinics, we have received over 22,500 patients. We have performed 15,000 swabs, one-third at drive-in points. We opened COVID call centers which had 19,661 calls in a few days. We still have enough equipment, reagents, and medicines, but I draw attention to CRP analyses. Out of 295 of our employees on sick leave, 130 are COVID cases who worked in COVID clinics. Our clinics are left to operate with one doctor and one nurse, and the citizens' revolt about not being able to get appointments is justified,” said Kečo.

She asked for the Emergency Medical Service to assist in transporting patients because 12 drivers are on sick leave.

“In the past 14 days, we have referred 261 severely ill patients to the KCUS, and 145 to the General Hospital,” she added.