Covid-19: Mulhouse and Colmar hospitals trigger their "white plan"

Europe 1 with AFP 6:55 a.m., December 2, 2021

The Haut-Rhin hospitals of Colmar and Mulhouse, "faced with a rapid evolution" of the Covid-19 in a department which has the highest incidence rate in the Grand Est, launched their "white plan" on Wednesday, they said. announced in a press release. "To cope with a significant need for Covid beds, the two establishments are reorganizing themselves to recreate units dedicated to the care of these patients", which requires "in some cases to postpone scheduled care activities", indicate the Hospital group of the Mulhouse and South-Alsace region (GHRMSA) and the Civil Hospitals of Colmar (HCC).

"In this particular context, the management of the two public health establishments decided to launch their White Plan from (of) Wednesday" in order "to ensure the best possible continuity of care", they continue.

The white plan allows for the deprogramming of non-urgent operations and to request staff reinforcements.

20% increase in daily calls related to Covid

Already severely tested by the Covid-19 epidemic during the first wave in 2020, of which Mulhouse was the epicenter, the two establishments are once again "facing a rapid evolution of the epidemic", they indicate. The Haut-Rhin Samu thus recorded an increase in calls related to Covid, with "more than 20% of daily calls" concerning this pathology, according to the same source. The number of visits to the emergency services is also increasing, the statement added.

The Mulhouse hospital had briefly triggered the White Plan at the end of September-beginning of October, in particular because of the lack of caregivers in this establishment where nearly 170 unvaccinated employees were then suspended.

According to the latest figures from the CovidTracker site, the incidence rate in Haut-Rhin reached 410 against 311 for France.