The epidemiological data shows that the Lower Sava region has the worst situation, at 1,481 confirmed cases per 100,000 people in a 14 day period, which is significantly higher than the 14 day incidence at state level which, as per the National Institute for Public Health, equals 988.

The director of the Brežice general hospital initially noted that capacities for acute care has increased significantly, and that all 45 beds in the hospital’s Covid department are being used to treat acute Covid patients.

Due to the above, they reduced the scope of work in the surgical department by having the trauma department treat all non-Covid patients, and they also had to cancel all scheduled operations in the orthopaedics department.

She also pointed out some of the issues facing Brežice hospital, namely that all hospital services are being delivered in one building, where paths cross for all departments. She believes the most pressing issue of the hospital is the strain placed on the doctors who have to ensure care for patients in the Covid department, the non-Covid department, and internist first aid in the emergency unit, 24 hours per day in these conditions. This can also be said about the nurses.

The Covid department has treated 208 patients since October, of whom one was a child, two were pregnant women, and they also performed emergency surgery on one Covid patient.

Employees have not yet fallen ill en masse, said the director.

The epidemiological situation in the country remains serious, and the pressure on hospitals is immense. Several people have lost their loved ones due to Covid-19. 1,949 persons have died due to the illness. Every story is different, and mourning is perceived differently by each and every one of us.

Žarko Trušnovec, a psychologist, talked about mourning and the importance of mourning the loss of a loved one. He said that, unlike in the first wave, he has been receiving many more calls from distressed individuals recently. Mourning the loss of a loved one is specific for every person, no uniform advice can be given to everyone, he said. The anti-corona measures make it much more difficult to say goodbyes during the epidemic. He proposed that when we lose a loved one, we should go to a place where we experienced nice things together, and say our goodbye in that manner. We must not forget about the children who deserve to be informed in the right manner in these difficult times of loss.