Bali facing imminent hospital beds shortage: official
Dozens of hospitals designated to treat COVID-19 cases in Bali are running out of space to treat infected patients, a health official said, illustrating an alarming development as Bali continues to record high numbers of new coronavirus cases daily.
“There are still beds but they are almost completely filled. If today there are additional patients, it will be full,” Ketut Suarjaya, who heads Bali Health Agency, said yesterday.
Bali currently has 55 hospitals designated to treat COVID-19 patients, which reportedly hold 778 hospital beds in total. As of Tuesday, 668 people were hospitalized for the disease, when the total number of cases stood at 6,549. The province has since confirmed 174 new cases, bringing the current total to 6,723.
Officials are coordinating efforts to increase the hospital bed capacity across different hospitals, and may potentially designate more health facilities to handle COVID-19 patients, with Suarjaya explaining that there are 72 hospitals in all of Bali.
The recent caseload spike on the island reflected more than double of what was reported the previous week, as Bali has recorded more than 100 cases daily for more than a week now.
Suarjaya said the surge resulted from people’s lack of discipline.
“Cases are increasing, why is it increasing? It’s because of [a lack of] discipline. There are crowds, and calls for people not to use masks. This results in people carrying the virus,” Suarjaya said.
Read Also —COVID-19 crisis is not under control in Bali: expert
Fast. Funny. Digital. We produce creativity that delights and influences customers. Join forces with us to slay buzzwords, rise above the noise, and sow the seeds of something great.
