Four samples can be placed in the GeneXpert machine at the same time. However, it is not used for mass testing, but is useful in quickly dealing with certain situations, Markotić said.
US Embassy official Victoria Taylor said that this is not about just a piece of equipment, but also about the partnership between Croatia and the United States.
We are happy that our small contribution can help the Fran Mihaljević Hospital and the healthcare system in time of need, Taylor said, commending all Croatian health workers for their tireless work during the pandemic.
Markotić said that most of the patients in the hospital’s COVID ward were between 50 and 65 years old and had underlying conditions. She noted that the hospital was nearly filled to capacity.
Markotić said that for now there was no substantial number of young people infected with the British variant of the coronavirus in the hospital, but noted that this variant was proved to be spreading faster among young people because of “their greater nonchalance, mobility and socialising.”
She warned that the number of new cases was growing and called on the citizens to avoid “risky situations”.
Markotić expressed hope that patients would not be left without medicines, after wholesale drug suppliers warned last week that they might restrict drug deliveries because of HRK 6.5 billion debt owed by the hospitals.
Drug wholesaler Medika said today it had suspended drug deliveries to the hospitals.
Markotić said that her hospital had sufficient drug supplies for now. “We hope that we will not find ourselves in a situation where we, or rather our patients, will be left without medicines.”
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said earlier that Finance Minister Zdravko Marić and Health Minister Vili Beroš would meet with drug wholesalers to discuss the debt and that they would be paid a certain amount of money in the coming days.
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