Briefing: an additional laboratory for COVID-19 diagnostics has started operating in Novopolotsk
According to him, this is the seventh laboratory in the region. It started operating at the end of last week and is now gaining momentum. "I think it will reach 100-120 tests per day, which will allow us to fully serve Novopolotsk and Polotsk district. Also, it is possible that this laboratory will take over part of the work for the nearby districts and relieve the existing laboratories in Vitebsk," said Mikhail Vishnevetsky.
Laboratory diagnostics of coronavirus in the region is carried out by specialists from the regional center for hygiene, epidemiology and public health, the center for dermatovenereology, the regional maternity hospital, the infectious diseases hospital, the VGMU clinic, and the repurposed virology department of the regional veterinary laboratory. Taking into account the Novopolotsk laboratory, about 1.6 thousand tests are carried out per day in the region.
Touching upon the incidence situation in the region, Mikhail Vishnevetsky noted: a decrease was observed over the weekend. "In the region, the admission of patients with pneumonia was about 80 cases on both Saturday and Sunday. Today, it will likely be more significant, because the outpatient-polyclinic link is working, and patients can go through polyclinics, not just call an ambulance," stated the head of the department. - In general, the situation is under control. For the past two weeks, it has remained within the same figures. Speaking about the regions, the trend of increase has stopped in Dokshitsy. One to two patients with pneumonia are admitted per day. Today, there are 25% fewer patients there compared to the peak value, the bed capacity is sufficient, and a second wave is not expected. The situation is stable in Beshenkovichi, Shumilino, Liozno, and Postavy districts."
A slight increase in the admission of patients with pneumonia is noted in Orsha; currently, the city's medical institutions are coping on their own. More than 400 beds have been deployed for such patients there.
Mikhail Vishnevetsky also noted: 243 artificial lung ventilation (ALV) devices and 144 anesthesia and respiratory devices, which also have a lung ventilation function, are located in the region's medical institutions. The occupancy of ALV devices by severe patients with a constant daily need for lung ventilation is 17%, and considering anesthesia and respiratory devices, it is 10% of the total park of this equipment. "In addition, medical institutions have another 1199 oxygen support points and 36 oxygen concentrators. Therefore, there is no strain on oxygen and ALV devices at all today," the head of the regional health department added.