Death is in Bergamo - worse than in this region, no patch in Europe is affected by the pandemic. The Air Force is now bringing seriously ill patients from northern Italy to Germany - an important sign of solidarity.
Berlin (dpa) - Because of the dramatic emergency of northern Italian hospitals in the coronavirus crisis, the Air Force flies patients to Germany.
The Airbus A310 MedEvac, the Bundeswehr's flying intensive care unit, was to take six seriously ill Italians in intensive care from Bergamo to Cologne on Saturday. The machine started in Cologne in the morning, said a spokesman for the German Press Agency.
"In times of greatest need, it goes without saying that we stand by our friends," said Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU) on the mission. "That is why we are now bringing seriously ill patients from Italy to Germany for treatment with our flying intensive care unit for the Air Force. This is an important sign of solidarity. Europe must stick together."
The plane should be back in Cologne by midday. Patients should be taken to civilian hospitals for treatment. According to dpa information, two patients are to be treated further in the Catholic Clinic in Bochum and in the University Clinics in Cologne and Bonn.
The Air Force describes the MedEcav Airbus as "an important link in the rescue chain for the medical evacuation of seriously and seriously injured people over long distances". There are up to six places for intensive care treatment on board. There are also 38 additional berths, whereby increased medical monitoring with monitors is possible for 16 patients. This means that 44 patients can be transported lying down.
The medical crew can count up to 25 people. The Air Force always has a MedEvac Airbus on standby at Cologne-Wahn Airport.
Bundeswehr on Airbus A310 and MedEvac
