Deaths in Portugal have hit record high levels and the government have been urged to seek international help and transfer Covid patients abroad.
The oxygen supply system partly failed at a large hospital near Lisbon from overuse, whilst a hospital in the Amadora municipality were forced to transfer 48 Covid patients as the oxygen pressure was not enough to treat a large amount of patients, they said in a statement.
However, the hospital said, “There was a need to relieve oxygen consumption so patients were transferred,” despite having almost no empty beds left.
Adding, “They were never in danger.”
Lisbon’s largest hospital, Santa Maria had 20 patients transferred there, and on Tuesday the hospital installed two fridges outside the morgue for extra capacity for dead bodies.
The Portuguese military has stepped in to help as hospitals are struggling to cope in the country and have set up health units, as cafeterias have been turned into intensive care units.
The local council in Torres Vedras, a municipality near Lisbon have urged the government’s Foreign Ministry to seek international help, following large outbreaks in care homes.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told a news conference there is no need to create “alarm,” in seeking help, but added, “We know there is the availability of friendly countries to help.”
Health Minister Marta Temido told broadcaster RTP on Monday, “The Portuguese government is triggering all mechanisms available, including in the international framework, to ensure it provides the best assistance to patients.”
In the past 24-hours Portugal recorded a record 291 deaths, with the total now standing at 11,012 and 653,878 total cases of the virus.
According to ourworldindata.org, Portugal now has the highest seven-day average of cases and death per million.
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