Load shedding in hospitals in Quebec is expected to increase, according to new estimates released Thursday by the National Institutes of Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESSS). Patients with COVID-19 may occupy 1,600 to 2,100 normal beds in the coming weeks.
Currently, hospitals in the province are ranked 3rd in the load shedding plan, with a maximum of 4. Two scenes, published by INESSS, however, predict that level 3 will eventually be “high”.
According to the first INESSS model, in three weeks, “the normal bed occupation for COVID patients will reach approximately 1,600 beds”, which will exceed level 3. With respect to intensive care, it can occupy about 300 beds, reaching the third level. .
The second scene is dark. In three weeks, 2,100 general beds and 375 intensive care beds will be occupied by patients with COVID-19. These figures exceed the threshold reached in previous waves of COVID-19 and beyond the third level of shedding.