With additional ventilators and hundreds of empty beds, ICUs wait for Covid-19

Uruguay's intensive care units (ICUs) are currently underutilized, with only 40% of beds occupied, as the country braces for the peak of Covid-19 infections. The nation has at least 666 ventilators across 655 ICU beds, one of the best bed-to-population ratios in the region. Health centers have followed strict sanitary directives since March 13, suspending all surgical interventions except for emergencies, obstetrics, and oncology cases. The reduction in social activity and mobility has led to a historic drop in traffic accidents and work-related injuries. The public and private health sectors are prepared to expand ICU services if necessary, with plans to increase ventilator capacity by 50%. The Ministry of Public Health has announced the forthcoming arrival of 100 additional ventilators. The ICU bed capacity is concentrated in Montevideo, with plans to address the expected increase in respiratory illnesses during the winter months.

Uruguay has the capacity to perform 1,600 daily tests but averages 215

Uruguay has the capacity to perform 1,600 COVID-19 tests daily but is only averaging 215 tests. The discrepancy is attributed to various factors including the cost of tests, unclear official guidelines, scarcity of reagents, and the learning curve for laboratory professionals. Public and private laboratories, as well as health institutions, are equipped to perform their own tests, with prices varying between 3,000 and 5,000 Uruguayan pesos. The Ministry of Public Health has been working to clarify testing criteria and expand testing capabilities, while a consortium including the Pasteur Institute and the University of the Republic is set to produce 10,000 diagnostic kits with funding from the National Agency for Research and Innovation.

Crónica sobre un casamiento realizado en el Complejo Carcelario Santiago Vázquez, una de las cárceles más grandes del Uruguay.

Crónica e investigación en la ciudad de Valparaíso, Chile, a un año del incendio que afectó varios puntos de la ciudad.

Hospital de Canelones tiene un CTI cerrado Investigación sobre un CTI público del Hospital departamental de Canelones que se escondió de los pacientes y no fue habilitado, a pesar de la carencia de un centro de terapia intensiva para los pacientes de Salud Pública que debían recaer en la atención de centros privados.