WILLEMSTAD - The number of corona patients admitted to the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) is just the tip of the iceberg. A large number of people are currently being cared for at home, when they should actually be hospitalized. That is according to general practitioner Jerry Semper. Semper is in charge of the vaccination program.

The hospital has 300 beds, of which 103 are currently occupied by Covid patients. In addition, the hospital has access to 52 respirators, of which 18 are still available. There are 20 respirators from the Netherlands and 10 from Bonaire.

The pressure on medical care is enormous and that is why the admission of patients is postponed for as long as possible, says Semper. There is also a shortage of medical personnel.

According to Semper, 75 to 100 patients should actually be admitted. These patients are treated at home by a general practitioner in collaboration with a pulmonologist. The medical consequences of the delayed admission are unknown.