Andina

Peru: Social insurance system hospital sets up dedicated area for coronavirus patients

00:00 | Lima, Mar. 10.

In less than a month, Peru's Social Health Insurance System (EsSalud) has set up an area for patients that are highly suspected of having coronavirus (COVID-19). The facilities are located —in an isolated area— outside National Hospital Edgardo Rebagliati in Lima.

EsSalud Executive-President Fiorella Molinelli made the announcement after presenting the facilities, which sit on a site area of over 500 square meters.

The place provides health care services such as triage, medical consultation, shock trauma, intensive care unit, swab testing lab, and hospitalization, which are completely differentiated and isolated from other areas within the hospital.

"60 beds have been reserved in the external zone of EsSalud's Rebagliati Hospital. They are completely isolated, blocked and sealed in order to accommodate coronavirus patients," she said.

Of this total, 34 beds are for patients requiring hospitalization, while 12 are allocated to intensive and intermediate care units, but the number is expected to grow.

According to EsSalud, the new areas include isolation wards for children and adults in order to take care of the vulnerable population groups that might have been infected with COVID-19.

This area will accommodate vulnerable patients who are suspected of having coronavirus, such as seniors, people with chronic health problems like diabetes and hypertension, as well as cancer and immunocompromised patients.

(END) NDP/RMB/MVB

Published: 3/10/2020