While the drop in the number of new patients affected by COVID-19 is being felt in hospitals across the province, intensive care is still facing significant pressure.
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This was confirmed by the head of intensive care at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Dr François Marquis, in an interview with LCN on Sunday morning.
For many patients, the transition to intensive care is as intense as in previous waves, but it lasts less, notes the Dr Marquis.
“There are people who are less sick and don’t need to be intubated, but those who are very sick are very sick. I don’t think we should hide it: Omicron is capable of putting someone in a very sorry state,” he says.
As elsewhere in the province, approximately half of COVID-19 patients in intensive care at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont are not adequately vaccinated. People with a weakened immune system also remain very numerous to be admitted to intensive care.
In general, there are fewer heavy cases, but the number of patients is so high that the medical staff have their hands full.
“It’s amazing how many people [aux soins intensifs]. And in life, one extremely sick patient can keep you busy all day, but 25 less sick patients can keep you busy even more,” says Dr.r Francois Marquess.
To see the full interview, watch the video above.