Second patient commits suicide at COVID-19-struck Albanian hospital where corpses reportedly left among patients

By bne IntelliNews September 3, 2020

A second patient infected with coronavirus (COVID-19) has committed suicide in Albania, jumping from a window of a Tirana hospital, local media reported on September 3.

The hospital lacks staff as almost half of them are affected with COVID-19 which means those that remain are struggling to care for patients, said a statement issued by the Albania Nurses Association issued a statement following the second tragic event in Shefqet Ndroqi hospital, according to Albanian Daily News.

According to nurses there is also a lack of social workers and psychologists and the total isolation of patients creates stress.

Another psychological shock is that when a patient dies they are kept in the same room as other patients until they are taken away by forensic medics.

The 65-year-old patient was admitted to Shefqet Ndroqi hospital in serious condition two days ago, Exit.al reported.

He was in an “aggravated psychological condition” and jumped from the fourth floor.

On August 13, another COVID-19 patient jumped from the third floor of the same hospital. The 29-year-old patient was being treated for four days prior to the incident. He was on the verge of recovery and would have been discharged soon.

A third patient also tried to jump from a window of a hospital, but was prevented to do so by the hospital staff.

The number of coronavirus cases spiked in the last two months with 116 new daily infections in the last 24 hours. The death toll from the virus reached 301. Albania has also seen a series of suicides in recent months, more than during the same period last year.

Reactions from the public on social media include demands for the resignation of Albania's Health Minister Ogerta Manastriliu.

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