Army field hospital erected in Ljubljana, ready to admit Covid-19 patients
Ljubljana, 17 March - The field hospital at the Edvard Peperko Barracks on the outskirts of Ljubljana that was announced by authorities three days ago is ready and can start admitting Covid-19 patients if necessary.
Ljubljana
A field hospital erected at the Edvard Peperko Barracks in Ljubljana, ready to admitting Covid-19 patients if necessary.
Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA
Ljubljana
A field hospital erected at the Edvard Peperko Barracks in Ljubljana, ready to admitting Covid-19 patients if necessary.
Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA
Ljubljana
A field hospital erected at the Edvard Peperko Barracks in Ljubljana, ready to admitting Covid-19 patients if necessary.
Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA
Ljubljana
A field hospital erected at the Edvard Peperko Barracks in Ljubljana, ready to admitting Covid-19 patients if necessary.
Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA
Ljubljana
A field hospital erected at the Edvard Peperko Barracks in Ljubljana, ready to admitting Covid-19 patients if necessary.
Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA
Ljubljana
A field hospital erected at the Edvard Peperko Barracks in Ljubljana, ready to admitting Covid-19 patients if necessary.
Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA
The basis for the new unit, which can serve as an isolation centre for up to 140 patients, was the main field hospital of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Role 2, which was relocated from Maribor.
Defence Minister Matej Tonin paid a visit today, saying the hospital was ready as backup, but he expressed hope it would actually end up being used for other purposes.
Projections based on the current growth of coronavirus cases suggest the field hospital will be needed within two weeks, but Tonin is hopeful the measures adopted by the government will contain the spread.
One alternative option being considered for the field hospital is reserving it for blood donors, as these have been avoiding healthcare institutions in fear of contracting the virus.