Parallel Health System Overwhelmed

The parallel health system is at 70% capacity, the highest it has ever been since the start of the pandemic. This from Principal Medical Officer, Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards. During the Prime Minister's media conference on Friday, she said the number of patients that require hospitalisation has increased from 14 to 18%. Dr. Abdool-Richards said some of the hospitals under the parallel health system had reached their capacity as of 10 am, while others were almost there. The Couva Medical and Multi-training facility is now at 75% while the Arima hospital is at 60% and the Augustus Long Hospital is at full capacity. Dr. Abdool-Richards said they will be increasing the number of beds at Augustus Long by adding seven additional beds within the next 24 hrs. An increase in capacity at the Arima Hospital and the Couva Medical and multi-training facility will be done on a phased basis, using human resources that will be deployed and shared from the other Regional health authority's.