50% positivity, but only 9 patients in intensive care (Bastogne)
The trend displayed at the end of December is still in place, with a high positivity rate, which does not translate into hospitalizations.
In the province of Luxembourg, the number of Covid patients remains far from the peaks known in the past. This Tuesday, January 25, Vivalia hospitals had 33 patients in traditional Covid units. 8 in Arlon, 6 in Marche and 19 in Libramont. “We have seen, in recent days, an increase in Libramont only, says Dr. Pascal Pierre, Medical Affairs Director of Vivalia. We must also take into account the fact that some of these people came to the hospital for a reason other than the Covid. Each patient is tested, so it happens that some, positive, are placed in the Covid unit even if they are asymptomatic or show few symptoms, to prevent the spread of the virus.
Proof of stability in the figures, a month ago, there were also around thirty patients in these conventional units.
“And few go to intensive care, where we have almost no admissionsadds Dr. Pascal Pierre. These are mainly patients who have been present for several weeks.” In terms of figures, our hospitals have only 9 Covid patients in intensive care (3 in Arlon, 1 in Marche, 4 in Libramont and 1 in Bastogne). For 5 votes a month. “In terms of the profile of Covid patients, they are practically only non-vaccinated”specifies the director of medical affairs at Vivalia.
The trend seen at the end of December is therefore confirmed. With a virus that circulates very strongly, while presenting a very small number of serious forms. “For two weeks, the positivity rate of the tests carried out in our laboratories has been around 50%. We have detected a lot of positive cases, but this is not reflected in the level of hospitalizations. Our units are far from full. It is the conjunction of the effect of vaccination, with the booster, and of a variant that is probably less pathogenic than the previous one.
As for the staff, “where we feared numerous defections due to Covid”the situation “remain manageable, even if there are sick people. But it can vary greatly from one day to the next, you have to remain attentive”finished Dr. Pascal Pierre.