In these cases, the lungs of patients are being attacked more significantly, which means that they are in need of heart-lung machines. However, only the national heart centre next to CHL on Route d’Arlon has such equipment at its disposal.
Both Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Minister for Home Affairs Taina Bofferding thus visited the centre of the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) in Dudelange on Tuesday. Responders informed the politicians that more and more young people are currently being affected by virus complications, which was not the case a few months ago.
Minister Bofferding noted: “At the beginning of the pandemic, it were mostly older patients that needed to be transported by emergency services. However, by now young people are also affected more significantly. This shows that everybody needs to take the threat seriously. Even athletic people can have trouble overcoming the virus.”
To this day, CGDIS forces have transported around 3,000 confirmed Covid-19 patients. The highest rate was seven people within 24 hours. Emergency services were called to action more than 10,000 times due to suspicion of an infection.
Even if the infection has yet to be confirmed, precautionary measures demand that extensive safety protocols be conducted each time suspicion arises. An average operation takes one hour and ten minutes, or even three and a half hours if the infection is confirmed. Thanks to specialised equipment, none of the responders have thus far contracted the virus while on duty.
