In the intensive care unit of the north hospital in Marseille, in a department of Bouches-du-Rhône particularly affected by the rebound of the epidemic, concern is mounting.
And professionals warn of potentially disastrous consequences on all resuscitations.
REPORTAGE
Bouches-du-Rhône is the department most affected by the rebound of the coronavirus epidemic, with an incidence rate of 180 per 100,000 inhabitants.
More than 8% of people tested are positive and in intensive care units, the beds dedicated to Covid-19 (70 in total) are almost all occupied.
There have been more and more serious cases in recent days and the fear of a second deadly wave is setting in, day after day.
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In the intensive care unit of the North hospital in Marseille, patients aged 50 to 85 were admitted a few days ago and are all intubated.
"We are afraid that it will start again as in March", explains Natacha, nurse, with Europe 1. "It is in clear progression. After, we know how to take care of the patients, but we do not know how It's going to happen. We still have plenty of questions. "
The rest of the medical activity "hampered"?
If the protocols are well established, Anne-Lise, nursing assistant, remains on the alert, because several patients have already had to be transferred to other hospitals for lack of space.
"We don't really want to relive what we've been through, that is to say dispatch the patients and rearm all the boxes. It's not easy. We should have a little more reinforcement. "
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The dreaded scenario would consist in mobilizing more beds in intensive care for the coronavirus, to the detriment of other patients.
"At the North hospital, our resuscitation beds are not extendable, contrary to what we think," said Professor Laurent Papazian, who heads the intensive care unit.
"It could interfere with the surgical or other medical activity. That is what is at stake. The rebound of the epidemic from mid-August was our main worry. It was our nightmare, we just started it. . "
The medical profession therefore calls for an awareness of the need for barrier gestures.