COVID-19 cases on the rise as winter approaches

KABUL (SW) – Health officials have warned about spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Afghanistan amid approaching harsh winter.

Officials at the Afghan-Japanese Hospital say that with the onset of the cold season, the number of people infected with the coronavirus in Kabul and provincial hospitals has increased by 10 percent. Officials have said they are short of medicine and oxygen.

Tariq Akbari, chief physician at Afghan-Japan Hospital, told Salam Watandar that the number of COVID-19 patients in the country was increasing. Akbari added that the number of patients referred to hospitals has increased by about 10 percent, but the supply of health equipment, especially oxygen, is declining.

According to him, about 65 patients are currently being treated at the hospital.

According to him, efforts have been made to raise the issue of non-payment of salaries of health workers and other issues with the relevant authorities and institutions, but so far no answer has been given.

Meanwhile, Dr. Saeed Amirnejad, head of the Herat Health Department’s cervical department, told Salam Watandar that as the weather cools, more patients are being admitted to hospitals and 39 patients are currently being treated in COVID-19 related wars.

He added that due to lack of funding, the work of survey teams in rural areas has stalled while the fourth wave of the pandemic has begun.

We tried to get the views of the officials of the Ministry of Health and the spokespersons of the Islamic Emirate about the lack of oxygen and medicine for the patients, but to no avail.

ENDS

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