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Europe Races to Ready Hospitals for Coronavirus Break Out

Jamie Dettmer

   ROME - With public health experts warning a tipping point for
   coronavirus is getting closer, European authorities are racing to try
   to ready their health systems to cope with a flood of sick and highly
   contagious patients.

   European countries are still in containment mode but they're also
   trying simultaneously to prepare their health services and hospitals
   for a possible pandemic and to delay any patient surge within their
   borders. They acknowledge that with some evidence emerging, as yet
   unconfirmed, that the virus can be spread by asymptomatic people,
   infection control -- from containment to delaying a spread -- is
   becoming harder.

   Ukraine, which has not had any confirmed cases of COVID-19, has stepped
   up what it calls "sanitary controls" on its borders, now that
   neighboring countries are reporting cases. Those entering the country
   are meant to have their temperatures checked and officials are urging
   Ukrainians to refrain from travel to European Union countries. Anyone
   who has, especially to countries affected by the virus, is being asked
   to isolate themselves.

   In the meantime, Ukrainian authorities are preparing to reorganize the
   country's hospital network and have advised medical centers to consider
   postponing scheduled operations to leave beds free for a possible
   outbreak. Local authorities have been ordered to pick two hospitals in
   their area to be designated to handle suspected coronavirus patients.
   World Health Organization specialists have started to train Ukrainian
   medical personnel on how to handle patients who test positive.

   "We are ready to brace for the coronavirus. At the same time, we are
   doing everything to prevent it from getting into the country," Deputy
   Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said Friday.

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