These were among the findings on Tuesday when Luxembourg’s fire and rescue services (CGDIS) showed the prime minister how it transports infectious patients during a government visit on Tuesday.
Xavier Bettel (DP), was joined by interior minister Taina Bofferding (LSAP), and fire and rescue board president Lydie Polfer to the fire and rescue centre in Dudelange and emergency call centre in Gasperich.
Firefighters have undergone specialised training to be able to transport infectious patients to hospitals and not only within the country. RTL reports that it has become increasingly common for covid-19 patients who are hospitalised to be transferred abroad to specialist treatment facilities. The virus impact on the lungs is sometimes so serious that patients require a heart-lung machine, which are only available in Luxembourg at the national heart centre on route d’Arlon.
The politicians learned that the average age of covid-19 patients being transferred to hospital in the country was also falling. “It shows us how dangerous the virus is,” said Bofferding.