Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya says it’s experiencing unusual overcrowding, with fears an uptick in coronavirus cases fueled by the Omicron variant may make things even worse.
The hospital says its internal medicine wards are at 150% capacity, with one unit experiencing even higher crowding, forcing some patients into hallways, Channel 12 reports. Staff shortages are also taking a toll.
President Isaac Herzog visits the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, on November 17, 2021. (Haim Zach/GPO)
A quarter of all beds are taken up by flu patients, and the deputy head of the hospital attributes the crowding to “wintertime illnesses.”
“If we have to open the coronavirus ward it will be at the expense of the internal wards, which will create complicated challenges,” Dr. Zvi Sheleg says to the channel. “I hope we’re not on the cusp of another tough coronavirus wave, since that can push us to the edge of our capabilities.”
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