Patients who are so ill in covid-19 that they have to be cared for in hospitals have increased over the past week.

During the morning on Thursday, the number of patients in need of care at the hospital in Västmanland was 33. Of these, eight require intensive care. Another 10-15 people have been tested for covid-19, but the results have not yet come.

- 100 samples were analyzed during yesterday and 22 of them had covid-19, says Jan Smedjegård.

Covid-19 is found throughout the county

Something that is also increasing now is the spread of infection within municipal care. According to Jan Smedjegård, this means that the load will increase on housing and inpatient care in the future.

- I expect that around 15 residents in the county have people where covid-19 patients have been confirmed. It is a signal that we have the spread of infection throughout the county. For these people have not had the opportunity to be infected other than through visitors or staff, says Jan Smedjegård.

Prepares lack of important material

Also on the live broadcast was Jan Hallberg, administrative director, to answer material supply questions.

- We know that our employees need protective equipment. The shortcomings today are about the personal protective equipment, but in a few weeks we see that there could be a shortage of material belonging to important appliances and that we try to prepare for, says Jan Hallberg.

Great assignment

The region's Deputy Director of Health Liselott Sjöqvist told us that it is now a fairly calm picture, with a lot of vacant care places at the hospital in Västmanland. The ambition going forward is to expand with 108 care sites to care for covid-infected people.

- In one perspective, 360 patients are currently being cared for at the county's hospitals that are not infected by covid-19. We have a major mission to deal with in order to ensure the urgent care of the Westman regardless of what kind of illness you have, says Liselott Sjöqvist.