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Source: https://www.francetvinfo.fr/sante/m...t-alerte-un-pneumologue-algerien_4048349.html
Covid-19 in Algeria: "600 cases a day is truly frightening", warns an Algerian pulmonologist
With 585 cases of coronavirus contamination identified on Thursday alone, Algeria reached a new record. The pulmonologist Salim Nafti deplores the lack of resources mobilized against transmission and says he fears "a catastrophe".
Updated on 07/17/2020 | 19:43
published on 07/17/2020 | 19:43
DIRECT. Coronavirus: "We are not in a serious situation but one which calls for vigilance", underlines Jean Castex at the "20 Heures" of France 2
Algeria must slow down its deconfinement. The country recorded a new contamination record Thursday, July 16, with 585 cases recorded in 24 hours. The confinement was renewed in 29 prefectures, including that of Algiers.
For Professor Salim Nafti, former head of the department of pneumology at the CHU Mustapha Bacha in Algiers, and former president of the Algerian Society of Pneumology, questioned Friday on Franceinfo, this is a "second wave". Approaching "600 cases a day soon is truly frightening". Professor Salim Nafti points out the lack of means of the health personnel and fears "the catastrophe" if their contamination continues.
franceinfo: Is there a resurgence of the epidemic in Algeria?
Salim Nafti: Absolutely. I allowed myself to speak of the second wave. The figures are clearly increasing. There is a very significant acceleration of the circulation of the virus in our country. This comes down to several factors. There is first the deconfinement which was decided at the beginning of July.
We freed up transport, we opened practically all the shops. The circulation between the different regions of the country was free. And right after that, the numbers doubled and even tripled. Salim Nafti at franceinfo
And there we reach and we will soon approach 600 cases per day, which is truly frightening.
Did the deconfinement take place too early?
Too early, no. It is not deconfinement. It is a little respect for the rules of distancing and all the barrier measures that can be expected from the population. However, this population was not accompanied in this deconfinement. People thought it was the end of the epidemic and that they could do anything. There was no mask or distancing. Festivals and weddings have resumed all the more, and as a result, population gatherings have been observed in all regions of the country.
Where is the most critical situation?
We have identified four to five departments which are currently very affected and where the population is constrained not to move, except for a few hours during the day. Otherwise, all parties have been banned, all gatherings too. It is understood that all sporting activities have been stopped for a long time.
What state is the Algerian hospital in at the moment? Can they bear the load?
The structures that were dedicated to Covid-19 are currently saturated almost everywhere in Algeria.
Doctors and the medical profession in general are on their knees. It is really burnout because it is since March that this situation persists. Human resources are exhausted. Salim Nafti at franceinfo
In some hospitals, unfortunately, what we deeply deplore - and this even shocked us ourselves - is the lack of oxygen in certain structures, which is really an aberration at the moment.
And are caregivers sufficiently protected?
Everything that could be protective equipment was quickly exhausted because we did not have a large stock. It is only recently that we have seen the arrival of a certain number of masks and coveralls and especially FFP2 masks, gloves, gowns and overcoats, in an attempt to protect the paramedical body as much as possible.
This medical profession has paid a very heavy price. We are about thirty deaths among doctors. There are even people from civil defense, firefighters, paramedics and stretcher bearers, who were affected. We are close to 3,000 cases of health professionals who have been contaminated by Covid-19. So, if in addition, there are injured people, if in addition there are sick personnel who themselves can be vectors of these viruses in the population, then this is truly a disaster.
Covid-19 in Algeria: "600 cases a day is truly frightening", warns an Algerian pulmonologist
With 585 cases of coronavirus contamination identified on Thursday alone, Algeria reached a new record. The pulmonologist Salim Nafti deplores the lack of resources mobilized against transmission and says he fears "a catastrophe".
Updated on 07/17/2020 | 19:43
published on 07/17/2020 | 19:43
DIRECT. Coronavirus: "We are not in a serious situation but one which calls for vigilance", underlines Jean Castex at the "20 Heures" of France 2
Algeria must slow down its deconfinement. The country recorded a new contamination record Thursday, July 16, with 585 cases recorded in 24 hours. The confinement was renewed in 29 prefectures, including that of Algiers.
For Professor Salim Nafti, former head of the department of pneumology at the CHU Mustapha Bacha in Algiers, and former president of the Algerian Society of Pneumology, questioned Friday on Franceinfo, this is a "second wave". Approaching "600 cases a day soon is truly frightening". Professor Salim Nafti points out the lack of means of the health personnel and fears "the catastrophe" if their contamination continues.
franceinfo: Is there a resurgence of the epidemic in Algeria?
Salim Nafti: Absolutely. I allowed myself to speak of the second wave. The figures are clearly increasing. There is a very significant acceleration of the circulation of the virus in our country. This comes down to several factors. There is first the deconfinement which was decided at the beginning of July.
We freed up transport, we opened practically all the shops. The circulation between the different regions of the country was free. And right after that, the numbers doubled and even tripled. Salim Nafti at franceinfo
And there we reach and we will soon approach 600 cases per day, which is truly frightening.
Did the deconfinement take place too early?
Too early, no. It is not deconfinement. It is a little respect for the rules of distancing and all the barrier measures that can be expected from the population. However, this population was not accompanied in this deconfinement. People thought it was the end of the epidemic and that they could do anything. There was no mask or distancing. Festivals and weddings have resumed all the more, and as a result, population gatherings have been observed in all regions of the country.
Where is the most critical situation?
We have identified four to five departments which are currently very affected and where the population is constrained not to move, except for a few hours during the day. Otherwise, all parties have been banned, all gatherings too. It is understood that all sporting activities have been stopped for a long time.
What state is the Algerian hospital in at the moment? Can they bear the load?
The structures that were dedicated to Covid-19 are currently saturated almost everywhere in Algeria.
Doctors and the medical profession in general are on their knees. It is really burnout because it is since March that this situation persists. Human resources are exhausted. Salim Nafti at franceinfo
In some hospitals, unfortunately, what we deeply deplore - and this even shocked us ourselves - is the lack of oxygen in certain structures, which is really an aberration at the moment.
And are caregivers sufficiently protected?
Everything that could be protective equipment was quickly exhausted because we did not have a large stock. It is only recently that we have seen the arrival of a certain number of masks and coveralls and especially FFP2 masks, gloves, gowns and overcoats, in an attempt to protect the paramedical body as much as possible.
This medical profession has paid a very heavy price. We are about thirty deaths among doctors. There are even people from civil defense, firefighters, paramedics and stretcher bearers, who were affected. We are close to 3,000 cases of health professionals who have been contaminated by Covid-19. So, if in addition, there are injured people, if in addition there are sick personnel who themselves can be vectors of these viruses in the population, then this is truly a disaster.