The Dakar is facing the third wave of Covid-19. Indeed, the patients are numerous while the hospitals are almost overloaded. There are no more beds in intensive care units either.

For the past three weeks, the number of new patients registered each day has increased by more than 340 in Senegal, according to Reuters.

Some hospitals in Dakar and Pikine in Senegal can no longer cope with all the Covid-19 patients.  Even the intensive care beds to treat them are no longer sufficient, to say there are no more, according to the head doctor of the district of Pikine and Dr Fatou Diouf Faye. At the moment, the beds are occupied by patients on oxygen awaiting regulation, according to these doctors.

As a result, hospitals and other medical practices are helping each other. The patients of Covid-19 are transferred to the others that still have free places. The hospitals call the others if they still have space available. And the health institutions do the same in case of emergency, according to the explanation of the chief physician of the district of Pikine.

Young people are the most affected

Young people are the most affected for this 3rd wave, according to Dr. Papa Samba Diève. "The explanation is this Delta variant that circulates on a large scale and affects both young and old people," he added.

Dakar is worried about this 3rd wave of Covid-19. In addition, the Delta variant is spreading and seems to be more severe. 

Apart from the lack of beds in intensive care units, doctors have also warned since the beginning of the pandemic, the shortage of oxygen and artificial respirators. Thus, the lack of health workers and equipment has been a problem since last year.

Out of fear, many Senegalese have decided to be vaccinated since the peak of infections.

Santie

Photo Credit : L'Humanité

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