At the microphone of Europe 1, André Cabié, head of the infectious diseases department at the CHU of Fort-de-France, describes an unprecedented situation in Martinique where the coronavirus epidemic is experiencing a very strong rebound.
The hospital system is saturated there.
The Minister of Health Olivier Véran is expected on site during the day.
"The health crisis is not behind us. Very clearly, we are going to live with the virus for several more months." This is the warning launched Wednesday by Emmanuel Macron at the end of a new Health Defense Council. The Head of State notably referred to a "dramatic situation" in the West Indies, where several territories are reconfigured in the face of the epidemic rebound, in particular Martinique. The Minister of Health is expected there Thursday. He will join his colleague from overseas, Sébastien Lecornu, who arrived in Guadeloupe on Tuesday.
This ministerial visit is eagerly awaited, in particular from caregivers on site, such as Doctor André Cabié, head of the infectious diseases department at the CHU of Fort-de-France.
"It is important that the minister comes to realize. Between reading figures, describing a situation and seeing it, there is a difference", he argues with Europe 1. "Every day, it gets worse. caregivers present in Martinique, whether those who are usually there or those who came to help us, have never seen that, "he reports.
>>
Find the morning show of the day in replay and podcast here
A "continuous flow" of patients
"For 24 hours, the emergency department has been totally saturated. In front of the emergency department, in the tents and in front of the tents that are usually used to sort patients and direct them, there are now stretchers with people who have bottles. oxygen ", describes André Cabié.
This doctor mentions "a continuous flow" of new arrivals.
240 caregivers sent to the West Indies
He salutes "national solidarity" from which Martinique benefits.
On Tuesday, 240 caregivers embarked from the metropolis for the French West Indies.
"This solidarity must be able to be extended because we know that it is a crisis which will last several weeks", concludes the head of the infectious diseases department of the CHU of Fort de France.