Within the next two to three weeks, the number of intensive care patients in German hospitals is expected to pass the record set in the spring. A number of experts are warning that the country could soon face a shortage of intensive care beds.   

German hospitals bracing for surge in coronavirus patients

Clinicians are expecting a surge in the number of patients admitted to ICU over the next couple of weeks, mirroring the latest steep rise in coronavirus infection numbers. Gerald Gass, head of the German Hospital Federation, warned on Monday that, “in two to three weeks, we will exceed the highest number of intensive care patients seen in April, and we can’t do anything to stop that.” 

“Anyone who is admitted to hospital in three weeks is already infected today,” he added. He announced that medical staff working in non-intensive care areas would also be transferred to ICUs. “Of course, this is not ideal, but it can be justified in such an exceptional situation.” 

As of October 31, 21.682 intensive care beds in Germany were occupied by coronavirus patients, according to Statista - leaving 7.539 available. The Robert Koch Institute reported 12.000 new coronavirus infections on Monday morning, a slight drop compared to the record 19.059 recorded on Saturday. However, infection numbers are typically lower on Mondays due to a lag in reporting over the weekend. 

Medical experts warn healthcare system is becoming overloaded

Gass’s warning has been echoed by other medical professionals, many of whom have been calling for stronger coronavirus restrictions to flatten infection rates and ease the strain on the healthcare system. 

Uwe Janssens, president of the German Association for Intensive and Emergency Medicine, told Bild am Sonntag, “Very clearly: There is not much room left in some federal states. Berlin has only 14 percent of its intensive care beds free; Bremen 17 percent.” He added that the current situation is much more dramatic than in the spring. 

Germany’s hospital commissioner, Andreas Westerfellhaus, called for non-urgent operations to be postponed. “Many intensive caregivers are working to their limit, and they are, rightly so, warning that the situation will get worse,” he told Bild, adding that, unless countermeasures are taken now, Germany could see a hospital situation similar to that in Italy during the first wave. 

SPD parliamentary group vice-president Bärbel Bas accused Health Minister Jens Spahn of not adequately protecting health professionals and risk groups. “Unfortunately, the announced test strategy [the promise of free tests for all healthcare workers] came too late,” she said.