Elementary #6

Pressure on hospitals But there was relief among hospital staff, who learned to their dismay last week that the government wants to ease restrictions at a time when nearly three-quarters of intensive care beds are occupied by patients with coronaviruses. Sunday revealed another 1,288 infections, the highest daily number in two weeks, while more than 2,500 people are being treated for the virus in hospital, 788 of them in intensive care. Ad Melkert, chairman of the board of the Netherlands Association of Hospitals NVZ, said, "It is difficult for people who hoped or counted on the easing of restrictions. But they are still badly needed, because in our hospitals everyone is on deck. First we need to get the virus under control, get more people vaccinated and reduce the pressure on hospitals. Then we can slowly but surely return to business as usual, but I think it will take a few weeks.