Given the sharp increase in flu cases in recent days, the Risk Management Group has decided to place the country in code orange. Wearing a mask is therefore recommended to limit infections and the spread of the flu!
Code orange means the healthcare sector is under pressure. Constant and significant pressure. The number of flu cases is increasing and hospitals are overwhelmed. “Yes indeed, we are experiencing pressure on our beds”explains Pierre Van Den Berge, director of care at Helora University Hospital in Nivelles. “These are not patients who have simple flu symptoms but rather complications!”
To better manage the different peaks of respiratory infections, the risk management group or in English in the text the Risk Management Group (the RMG) develops a winter plan for respiratory infections with color codes which follow the evolution of the pathologies. There are 4 codes: green, yellow, orange and red! So here we just entered code orange. “This code orange means that we are attentive to all respiratory viruses that are circulating at the moment. And we want to protect the patients most at risk”further confirms our director of care in Nivelles.
Hospitals, schools and nurseries are affected
This orange code means the return of the mask for the most vulnerable people in order to protect themselves and avoid the spread of infections. Without forgetting the return of barrier gestures. For Pierre Van Den Berge, it’s simple: “At the hospital, barrier gestures are supposed to be respected all year round. But more than ever today, we are strengthening communication around these gestures and the wearing of masks.”
Note that it is not only hospitals that are asking to respect this orange code… schools and nurseries have also sent a letter to this effect while awaiting a new assessment of respiratory infection rates!
