Masks compulsory in some clinics

Health - Masks compulsory in some clinics

Due to currently widespread respiratory diseases - including coronavirus - masks are once again mandatory in some hospitals in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Most recently, the district hospital in Wolgast announced at the weekend that masks were compulsory for visitors throughout the hospital. Masks are compulsory in patient rooms and visiting hours are restricted at Demmin District Hospital. According to the hospital, coronavirus infections in particular have increased.

In Neubrandenburg, the Bethesda Clinic, a rehabilitation clinic for the elderly, has made masks compulsory for visitors and staff in close contact with patients. According to the University Medical Center Greifswald (UMG), the obligation to wear a mask when working with patients has been in place again for many weeks.

According to the Ministry of Health in Schwerin, the data recently indicated a significantly higher incidence of infection in the eastern part of the state. Most recently, the incidence of respiratory diseases in MV has been at a seasonally typical high level, but significantly lower than in the previous year. The coronavirus has recently dominated among the pathogens.

Overall, the Ministry of Health in Schwerin expects the situation to ease around the upcoming Christmas holidays. Experience shows that people then reduce their contacts, explained a spokesperson for the ministry.

The Rostock University Medical Center (UMR) said that around one in five patients tested for coronavirus was infected. Treatments for influenza have also increased in recent days. "A general mask requirement is not currently planned," explained a spokesperson. There are written guidelines as to when a mask must be worn. UMR employees able to work with cold symptoms, for example, are asked to wear a mask out of consideration.

According to its own information, Greifswald University Medicine has been recording an average of around 40 patients requiring inpatient treatment with or due to coronavirus for around three weeks. Eight of these are being monitored or treated in intensive care. The sickness rate among employees is typically significantly higher during the season, partly due to sick family members, usually children. However, staff shortages can usually be compensated for quickly.

According to the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Clinic in Neubrandenburg, there were around 80 patients infected with coronavirus last week, five of whom were in the intensive care unit. Some wards had to limit their admission capacity due to sickness-related absences.

According to the Südstadt Hospital in Rostock, outbreaks can also lead to beds being closed and operations being postponed. Masks would be worn depending on the situation. Most recently, staff and visitors to the oncology department were required to do so. The number of inpatients with coronavirus infections doubled from the beginning of November to mid-December and most recently stood at around 30. There were significantly more staff absences due to respiratory infections than in the years before coronavirus.