Elche hospital breaches 115% of UCI capacity

The Valencian Community has closed territorial borders and announced extra restrictions in 31 municipalities from today.

Elche’s Hospital del Vinalopó is at the centre of the Valencian Community’s second wave of COVID-19 infections.

Hospital data shows its Intensive Care Unit (UCI) was at 115% of its capacity for critical coronavirus patients on Wednesday.

The hospital has now added extra beds – installed back in March – to avoid the collapse of scheduled appointments, surgeries and day-to-day operations.

Hospital sources told TeleElx there are now 22 beds available, which are currently 70% full.

The hospital also can open up 18 more UCI beds, if necessary.

Elche’s Hospital General has reported 32 hospitalised patients, with 6 in an UCI of 22-bed capacity (27% full).

Restrictions

It comes as the health department of Elche has recorded 744 COVID-19 positive diagnoses over the last 14 days.

This makes an accumulated incidence of 320 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to most recent figures in the Valencian Community’s coronavirus interactive data map.

The AI of 320 per 100,000 is far above the Valencian Community’s AI of 218 per 100,000, according to national statistics published yesterday – link here.

Elche is one of the worst-hit regions in Alicante province, along with health departments of Elda (770 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), and Petrer (589 per 100,000).

These areas are among the 31 municipalities to receive extra restrictions in effect from today – read a full list of restrictions and areas here.

Hospitals across the Valencian Community are currently treating 1,183 COVID-19 patients, with 178 in UCIs.

UCI beds set aside for coronavirus patients are 17% full across the Valencian Community, with hospital beds 10% full.

UCI beds have risen sharply, with 15 new admissions throughout Wednesday.

This Tuesday saw UCI occupancy breach the 15% threshold that put the Valencian Community up to level 3 ‘high’ risk, according to Spain’s four-tier alert system. Read our write-up here.