The arrival of the army Puma helicopter at Bastia hospital and the deployment of an armada of white coats say a lot about the hospital tension caused by Covid-19 in Corsica.
A patient suffering from a severe form of the coronavirus and requiring special treatment was evacuated this Thursday from the Bastia hospital to that of Marseille.
At 5:25 p.m., the military helicopter landed on the helipad of the Bastia hospital with a medical team on board, AFP observed on the spot.
He then took off again and returned an hour later to pick up the patient, with whom he left at 7:35 p.m.
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"This patient requires special treatment that cannot be managed here," explains André De Caffarelli, medical director of the Covid units at the Bastia hospital center.
We initiate this treatment, but then we need support on the continent.
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A transfer within the framework of the regional white plan
"This is a patient with a severe form of Covid-19, currently placed on extracorporeal respiratory assistance (ECMO)", details the ARS of Corsica, specifying that the medical team accompanying him was from the center Ajaccio hospital.
"This transfer is part of the activation on Tuesday of the regional white plan, and allows to temporarily release the tension of the regional intensive care services", adds the ARS, in a context of strong circulation of the virus and with "a very clear increase in patients justifying hospitalization ”.
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"If we can transfer one or two patients, that would be good", the five Covid intensive care beds in Bastia being currently occupied, slips on his side Jean-Mathieu Defour, director of the hospital.
An incidence rate of 659 for the whole of Corsica
Since the start of the epidemic, 236 people have died on the Island of Beauty - 340,000 inhabitants - including one Thursday.
This Thursday evening, 68 people are hospitalized, including 15 in intensive care or intensive care, according to the latest report from the Regional Health Agency published on Thursday.
The ARS on Tuesday triggered the "White Plan" allowing hospitals to increase their capacities while the Isle of Beauty is currently frequented by tens of thousands of tourists and the incidence rate of young people aged 15 to 19 is 1,900 per 100,000 inhabitants.
This rate is 659 for the whole of Corsica all age categories combined, the prefects and the ARS said on Wednesday.
Since the start of the epidemic, Corsica has already experienced medical evacuations. On March 22, 2020, the first 12 patients with Covid-19 had been evacuated to relieve the Ajaccio hospital on board the Tonnerre helicopter carrier to four Marseille hospitals. Other transfers were also organized a few days later.