Seven patients are being treated in intensive care due to coronavirus infection in the Szent László Hospital, the head of the Infectious Diseases Department of the South Pest Central Hospital stated at an online press conference held on Sunday after the meeting of the Operational Group.

János Szlávik reported that on Sunday another two persons, a woman aged 65 and another aged 75 had died.

He also said the average age of the deceased is 66, while that of the patients in intensive care is 69 years.

He highlighted that there are equally children, middle-aged persons and elderly among patients. He pointed out that in children severe progression is rare, while death is extremely rare.

Mr Szlávik added that on Sunday they had released further recovered patients from hospital. They include persons in their forties and in their sixties.

According to his information, at present they are treating 49 patients in the Szent László Hospital. Around one half of the patients treated in the hospital have mild to medium symptoms, such as a cough, breathlessness, high temperature, general fatigue, muscle and joint ache.

Regarding the progression of the disease, in 20 per cent of patients, a few days of coughing are followed by a high temperature, “a wet cough, extreme headache and fatigue. At this stage, the disease progresses to a severe phase.”

After 10 to 14 days, these patients usually need intensive care, including mechanical ventilation. Mechanical ventilation could in some cases last for several weeks, he said, observing that one of the patients currently in intensive care has been on assisted ventilation for two weeks.

Mr Szlávik also said patients with very mild symptoms can await recovery at home which usually takes two weeks. If their condition changes for the worse, these patients, too, need immediate hospital treatment.

(Ministry of Human Capacities/MTI)