He emphasized that there is currently a rapid increase in infection rates, which is fully in line with previous forecasts. This means that the filling of hospital beds also occurs in a geometric progression and doubles every two weeks.
"If fewer than 300 Covid-19 patients are currently being treated in hospitals, there will be twice as many in two weeks, and twice as many two weeks later. The critical situation will be reached very quickly," said Brigis.
According to him, it is no longer possible to slow down the number of sick and hospitalized patients, so the government will inevitably have to decide on restrictions in the first half of October. In Brigis' view, they should not be gradual restrictions as in the previous wave, but one-off measures with tight restrictions.
"Part of society has chosen not to be vaccinated, this is their choice. In fact, all those who have not been vaccinated will get Covid-19 in the coming months, some of them will need hospital treatment and some will have a severe case of the virus," said Brigis.
He added that in a situation where hospitals are overcrowded, many departments will have to be re-profiled to treat Covid-19 patients, which will adversely affect patients with other conditions.
"Therefore, the government must decide what radical measures should be taken in regards to the unvaccinated population," Brigis said.
On September 14 there were 292 patients being treated for Covid-19 symptoms in Latvian hospitals, with 26 of that number exhibiting serious symptoms, and 27 patients admitted during the previous 24 hour period.
