Rise in adhesives, rise in isolation, beginning of war.
The headlines in recent weeks show apocalyptic predictions of tens of thousands of patients in the omicron strain, predictions reminiscent of the days of uncertainty of the onset of the plague.
In a special interview with "Shishvat", directors of large hospitals around the country say that we can take control of this wave as well.
Managers go against the sense of panic and stress that although the omicron variant seems to have gotten out of hand, and despite the daily changes in guidelines, the health system has gained enough experience and knowledge to be prepared to deal with this war, no matter how long.
Along with the optimism, they warn of a shortage of intensive care beds, which could be felt in the event of a huge increase in the number of infected and hospitalized, attrition of medical staff and the irresponsibility of the public, who claim not to care about wearing masks and maintaining social distance.
The six principals we spoke to are: Dr. Eran Rotman, General Manager of Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva; Dr. Shlomi Kodesh, CEO of Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva; Prof. Yoram Weiss, Director General of Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem; Dr. Yaron Muscat, Director General of Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba; Prof. Masad Barhoum, Director General of the Galilee Medical Center - Nahariya, who is also a member of the committee Advising the Director General of the Ministry of Health to eradicate the corona in the Arab sector; and Nadav Chen, Director General of the Niado Hospital in Netanya.
"I've already heard an estimate that there will be 50,000 verified a day," says Dr. Muscat. Therefore, we are prepared to sample the team on a large scale. It makes the job difficult, but at this point, at the beginning of the wave, we are able to deal with the situation. If and when there is an abnormal increase in verified Corona among the population, I have no doubt that there will also be an increase among staff, and that is a problem. "As much as you protect yourself, it is impossible to completely prevent the infection of workers."
As information on the Omicron variant accumulates, it is speculated that it is a highly contagious strain, but less deadly than the Delta. According to Prof. Weiss, "The number of patients in critical condition is slowly increasing, because this strain is more contagious, but less violent. There is no doubt that the more infected they are, the more severe patients appear to require hospitalization. "We were in a very bad situation. Those who develop a critical illness are mostly unvaccinated. In general, statistically, patients who are vaccinated twice, and certainly three times, receive significant protection against a critical illness."
Dr. Rotman believes that “herd immunity will probably eventually develop, as a side effect of life alongside the virus. At our hospital there is no stress and no panic, because there is no reason to create panic. There is readiness, and with it we will face this wave. Each wave brought with it its own uniqueness, and the law of the omicron is not like the law of the Delta. "For us as a hospital, this strain will affect the hospital due to the number of verified people who come to it for other reasons and turn out to be verified, and not for the difficult patients."
According to Dr. Kodesh, the new situation actually requires extreme caution on the part of the citizens. “Even if the government is indecisive, the public should act responsibly.
It hurts when we see a part of the public around us that does not understand its part in preventing an epidemic, that does not insist on wearing masks, on social distance, that does not avoid gatherings.
This argument that 'you' are allowed to go to parties or performances or any other closed venue, is terrible.
"Citizens also have a responsibility, and the feeling is that some citizens behave irresponsibly, without thinking about the people who are left to pay the price later - the patients and the caregivers," he said. "I support Hapoel Beer Sheva and go to all their games, .
"Everyone should do their risk management, and not be dependent on what this or that minister says at 20:00."
The full article tomorrow in "Shishvat"
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