Nurse died because she did not receive timely treatment due to epidemic prevention regulations in Chinese hospitals

A nurse in Shanghai died after having an asthma attack and was not treated in time at the hospital where she was working just because of the Covid-19 epidemic prevention regulations being implemented by the city government.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), nurse Zhou Shengni working at Shanghai East Hospital had severe asthma on March 23. Ms. Zhou’s family took Ms. Zhou to the hospital in the afternoon of the same day. But according to the official announcement from Shanghai East Hospital, when Ms. Zhou was taken to the hospital, the emergency room was closed for disinfection to prevent the risk of corona virus spreading.

Ms. Zhou was then transferred to Renji Hospital, located about 5km from Shanghai East Hospital, for treatment. Unfortunately, the nurse later passed away.

“Miss Zhou is a hard worker and an experienced nurse. Ms. Zhou’s death is a loss to the hospital,” the statement from Shanghai East Hospital said.

The city of Shanghai is battling the strongest Covid-19 outbreak since the pandemic emerged in 2020. As strict disease prevention measures were enforced, city residents complained many patients had died. were not treated in time at the hospital, and the blockade of residential areas turned people’s lives upside down.

Shanghai has not had any deaths from corona virus infection in this Covid-19 outbreak. But the death of female nurse Zhou has partly shown the rigid epidemic prevention and control measures that the city government is implementing.

Specifically, on March 24, 39 hospitals and clinics in 13 districts of Shanghai city were closed during the implementation of epidemic prevention measures, according to the Shanghai Health Commission.

In many other cities, local governments have emphasized that they will ensure urgent medical care for the elderly, pregnant women and others, as well as keep medical hotlines open. to solve problems in a timely manner. However, Chinese public opinion has voiced complaints about poor management, along with a shortage of medical staff at public health facilities, and lax blockade.

In January, two mothers in Xi’an city in China’s Shaanxi province lost their children due to regulations related to the prevention of the Covid-19 epidemic that hindered emergency and treatment activities. . After the investigation, the manager of a hospital was fired and 2 medical staff were fired.

On March 25, Shanghai confirmed an additional 29 cases of Covid-19 and 1,580 asymptomatic corona virus infections. Overall, on March 25, China had 1,301 new cases of Covid-19 and 3,489 asymptomatic cases. The majority of Covid-19 cases are located in Jilin province, which has been battling the epidemic for the past few weeks.

Also on the morning of March 25, Mr. Wu Jinglei, director of the Shanghai Health Commission, sent condolences to the family of female nurse Zhou, and affirmed that there will be more support measures to strengthen and ensure the rights of the nurse. benefits for medical staff.

“Over the past two years, especially recently, the city’s frontline epidemic prevention workers have been working hard, relentlessly to battle physical fatigue and psychological pressure.” , Mr. Wu said.

Mr. Wu acknowledged that Shanghai is still in the most difficult and important period in the process of preventing and controlling the Covid-19 epidemic.

In September 2021, China’s National Health Commission once praised the success of Shanghai’s Covid-19 anti-epidemic model. But now, Shanghai is facing the biggest challenge since Covid-19 appeared when there were continuously new cases of the disease every day this month.

This week, the famous epidemiologist in China Zhang Wenhong called on the authorities to protect people’s daily life and livelihoods as normal. According to Mr. Zhang, maintaining a normal life rhythm is important in the implementation of the “flexible zero Covid-19” policy.

In fact, many local governments in China are facing an increasing financial burden when implementing the “zero Covid-19” policy.

The “no Covid-19 case” policy in China focuses on enforcing the blockade order, mass testing and isolation at government facilities.

However, the cost of anti-epidemic strategy is increasing. In 2020, China’s central government allocates funds to support local governments in fighting the epidemic. But many localities in China say they have been fighting the epidemic with their own budgets since last year.