Hospitals feeling the strain of Covid

Yesterday saw yet another record-high number of daily Covid cases, with 1,265 positive tests registered.

A total of 15 hospital patients have Covid. Six of these are hospitalised due to Covid, while the other nine have tested positive but are admitted for other reasons.

”Most of our Covid patients have underlying health issues and are therefore at higher risk of developing serious illness from Covid-19,” says Steinar Eirikstoft, CEO of the National Hospital.

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From 7 December last year until yesterday, 370 hospital staff have tested positive.

“The Faroese hospital workforce consists of about 1,400 people. Every day so far this year, 80-100 of our staff have been absent due to illness or quarantine,” he says.

“This obviously has an effect on how our hospitals can function as our staff is being put under enormous strain. Luckily, we have some degree of staff rotation as most of our sick staff return after a week or two, so we are still coping. But it’s hard work for us all.”

For further information about Covid-19 in the Faroes, including daily figures, visit corona.fo.

Read the Faroese version of this article here.

More Faroese News in English.