RIGA, July 16 (LETA) - The children's ward at Jelgava Hospital has completely resumed its work, which was closed last November due to the need to provide beds for Covid-19 patients, LETA found out from the local government.

Karlis Smilga, a member of the hospital's board, emphasized that the children's ward had resumed its work in full. It has even increased the number of beds - from the previous 20 to 25.

"As the number of Covid-19 patients decreases, we finally have the opportunity to resume the work of the children's ward. The last Covid-19 patient at Jelgava Hospital was discharged earlier this week," Smilga explained.

As reported, taking into account the decrease in the incidence of Covid-19, as well as the number of hospitalized and inpatient Covid-19 patients, treatment of Covid-19 patients will only be provided at the largest Latvian hospitals from now on.

According to Oskars Sneiders, a representative of the Ministry of Health, Covid-19 patients in need of hospital treatment will be taken to Riga East Clinical University Hospital, Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Liepaja Regional Hospital, Daugavpils Regional Hospital and the Children's Clinical University Hospital.

Meanwhile, those giving birth who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 will be hospitalized in regional hospitals, Riga Maternity Hospital or Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital. At the same time, it has been determined that the so-called transit wards will remain in the regional hospitals, and it is expected that the Covid-19 wards will be reopened within two days if the number of Covid-19 patients increases.

Such changes will allow hospitals to re-profile beds to provide treatment for patients with other ailments. The rapid increase in the number of patients with other ailments can be explained by the postponement of planned health care services due to the Covid-19 pandemic.