Muscat, October 5 (ONA) - The first phase of the field hospital for Covid 19 patients, with a capacity of 100 beds, was inaugurated today in the old Muscat Airport building, which will have a capacity of 312 beds.
The opening was patronized by Sayyid Saud bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat.
The hospital, which was built on an area of 6,100 square meters, consists of several departments that include admission beds for light and medium cases, a temporary care department, a pharmacy, a medical laboratory specializing in Covid 19 cases, and a radiology department.
The hospital will be staffed by a medical team from the Ministry of Health consisting of 30 doctors, 115 nurses, 7 laboratory technicians, 7 pharmacy assistants and 7 radiologists.
His Excellency the Minister of State and the Governor of Muscat expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Higher Committee in charge of discussing the mechanism of dealing with developments resulting from the spread of the novel Corona virus and to those in charge of the field hospital project for Covid 19 patients who were able to complete it in a record time. His Excellency also thanked the initiative of Petroleum Development Oman in this regard.
In a statement he made to news reporters, His Excellency clarified that this hospital will reduce the burden on the hospitals of Muscat Governorate, allowing them to start their work to treat other diseases.
His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Muhammad Al-Saeedi, Minister of Health, expressed his gratitude and thanks to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq for his continuous support to the health sector and all workers in the medical sector and other auxiliary groups who contributed to its management and care of patients who would be transferred to the hospital, which was completed in record time within two months and it has 312 beds.
His Excellency praised the great efforts and the contribution of the private sector and Petroleum Development Oman, the main supporter of establishing this hospital.
His Excellency affirmed that the pandemic would continue, describing some citizens and residents' compliance with preventive measures as “not as it should”, pointing to the continued existence of gatherings, including those condolence gathering, which could “also cause further condolence gatherings” if they continue.
His Excellency considered that this hospital will alleviate the pressures on other hospitals, whether in the Governorate of Muscat or in the neighbouring governorates, expressing his concern that the capacity of all hospitals in the Governorate of Muscat, whether governmental or private, are close to full.
His Excellency pointed out that the cessation of exacerbated cases depends largely on adherence to precautionary measures by citizens and residents, stressing that the government has provided and will do everything possible in order to combat this epidemic, which is everyone's responsibility, “the individual, society, family and employers.”
His Excellency the Minister of Health stated that the wheel of the economy must continue through the opening of activities, but that “does not mean recklessness and non-compliance with the precautionary measures that everyone knows.”
His Excellency said that the field hospital is a tributary to the health sector, and that the numbers at the global level are steadily increasing. “It is sad that we in the Sultanate exceeded 100,000 cases yesterday and the deaths during the past three days reached 42 deaths,” he added, calling on everyone to adhere to health measures.
His Excellency, the Minister of Health, indicated that the vaccine depends on studies and it needs time, and there are companies close to the completion of the third phase, which is the last phase of clinical trials, stressing that the Ministry of Health is in constant contact with these companies, “but until now there is no specific date for the vaccine to be commercially manufactured.” He also pointed out that the news that we hear about experimental vaccines has not been approved by any internationally accredited institution, stressing that the Sultanate has the principle that no medicine or vaccine can be used before it has been approved and certified and its safety, effectiveness and safety ensured.
His Excellency expressed his concern about the increase in the number of cases registered in intensive care, pointing out that the Sultanate's hospitals, until yesterday, recorded 210 cases, which is the highest number recorded in the Sultanate for one disease only, pointing out that obtaining medical competencies prepared for intensive care is not as easy as some imagine and there is a very intense international competition to attract medical competencies, indicating that the Sultanate has attracted a good number of intensive care nurses and some doctors.
Dr. Nabil bin Mohammed Al Lawati, director of the field hospital for Covid 19 patients, said that the hospital will contribute to treating mild and moderate cases of Covid 19 patients, thereby relieving the pressure on other hospitals that gradually start providing their other services.
He added that the hospital has the potential to expand, as it started with 100 beds to reach 312 beds in a gradual manner, indicating that in the event of availability of resources, there is a tendency to convert it into intensive care if possible, and this depends on the number of cases and the trend of the ministry and the health sector.
His Excellency the Minister of Health concluded his statement by saying that there is no emergency department in the hospital, and the referrers will be received in coordination with other hospitals for laboratory confirmed cases, explaining that the field hospital for Covid 19 patients will serve the Governorate of Muscat, provided that it gradually provides its services to the nearby governorates.
(ONA)