Purmerend / Hoorn – The RIVM announced this morning that a woman from Diemen has the corona virus. Patients infected with the coronavirus can be treated at the Dijklander Hospital, among others. Internist-infectiologist Joost Vermeulen gave Mediapartner NH Nieuws a peek into an isolation room.
Location Purmerend has six isolation rooms and in Hoorn there are 27. They are single rooms where you enter through a lock. Gloves, a mouth cap, glasses and a coat are ready in the lock. And before you go outside again, throw away your safety clothing. Due to the air pressure in the lock, bacteria cannot escape.
“We are always prepared for people who carry a virus that is contagious, such as the flu. So we already had the precautionary measures, “explains Dr. Vermeulen in one of those rooms. The rooms are not new to nursing staff: patients with other infectious infectious diseases are also treated in such an isolation room.
The preparation for a corona epidemic is largely the same for the Dijkland hospital as for the flu epidemic. “The only difference is that we do not know how large the outbreak will be. What everyone is naturally afraid of is that many people get sick at the same time.
“Most people who get the virus don’t get sick at all”
JOOST VERMEULEN, INTERNIST-INFECTIOOLOGIST
If it is true that all 33 isolation rooms are full, consultations are held with hospitals in the area. “Suppose there is a major outbreak, then we have to nurse people in a different way. For example, several people in one room. “
But Dr. Vermeulen has reassuring words so far. It is expected that most people who have the symptoms will be able to stay at home.
“I personally think that people will probably end up in our hospital. I wonder if there will be many, “he explains. “We now see that the epidemic seems to be flattening around the world. And more importantly, most people who get the virus don’t get sick at all. “
Healthcare providers are ready
Doctor Vermeulen and many of his colleagues are reluctant to come into contact with the virus. “Many people may also find it interesting to be involved in this. Other people may also be a bit worried. But with a jacket, mask and glasses you are well protected. “
If you think you are infected with the corona virus, contact the doctor or the GGD by telephone. There is no specific treatment and most people recover from infection.
– .
