In mid-January 2020, I started to actively monitor the SARS-CoV-2 virus. At that time, it was called the Wuhan Virus. When the virus began to spread in Italy in February, I knew it would come here as well. At the hospital, we considered how different wards would be preparing for incoming coronavirus patients and what the protection measures for staff and patients would be. The staff had to be instructed and trained. The staff were transferred between units and wards were combined. There was a shortage of protective equipment, which caused fear and anxiety in addition to the other changes.
After the initial phase, individual staff working in the corona wards began to fall ill. Often the source of the infection was a sick colleague, or the staff member had been infected outside the hospital. A break room or a joint office could be a more dangerous place in terms of infection than a patient room for corona patients. The treatment has improved steadfastly, and rapid measures, such as anti-coagulation medication, have made it possible for us to prevent the death of many patients.
The biggest problem has been the lack of up-to-date information. My workdays have grown longer, and I’ve even had to deal with work matters on my holidays. The best part has been being involved in cooperation projects, both with regard to protective equipment and research. It’s impossible to get away from the coronavirus even during my spare time as the media reminds us of it hourly. Unfortunately, it seems that this will continue for the next year. I cannot think about anything past that at this time.