Just a few hours after the Prime Minister announced a 3-week lockdown, the Health Minister rushed to announce the hiring of 300 doctors for Covid-19 ICUs and the requisition of ICU beds in private clinics and hospitals.
A literally last minute move as ICU beds in Attica are occupied at 66% and in Thessaloniki at 78% At the same time, the country counts some 3,000 Covid-19 cases per day, two-digit deaths per day, while the number of intubated Covid-19 patients has reached 189.
The amendment submitted by Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias to the Parliament late on Thursday reportedly foresees the hiring of 300 doctors at ICUs, the increase of intensive care beds and the possibility of the requisition of ICU beds in private clinics, including the requisition of the entire clinics.
The provision for the requisition of ICU beds, normal ward beds in private clinics and hospitals and of the entire facilities is valid until 28. February 2021.
In total 500 specialized doctors are to be recruited at the public hospitals, 300 resident doctors in ICUs and 1,000 nursing personnel, including specialists in the field of physiotherapy.
The resident doctors are reportedly to be hired for a few months.
Another amendment provision extends the possibility of compulsory requisition of “tourist accommodations until 30. November 2020” with the aim to “cover public health emergencies related to the treatment of COVID-19 patients, if they can not be treated otherwise.”
Note that the so-called “requisition” is in meta-modern communist phraseology practically “leasing” as the state pays owners of private clinics and touristic accommodations.
Greece is placed in lockdown on November 7 and until November 20, 2020.
PS The often reiterated government narrative of “7,000 recruitment and 1,200 ICU beds” has collapsed with a big, loud noise, I’m afraid.
And to think that still in September, the government spokesman was claiming that “had we heard SYRIZA we would have wasted million to euros in ICUs.”
