To deal with the coronavirus situation, Germany sends its flying hospital to Italy. Italy is the most affected country by coronavirus infection across the world. More than thousands of people are dying daily because of this infection.
Understanding the intensity of the coronavirus infection in Italy, Germany decided to send its aircraft as a sign of ‘sign of solidarity’.
Earlier the aircraft successfully brought six Italian intensive care patients on Tuesday, March 28, from Bergamo to Cologne. The German Air Force is planning for more routes over the coming days as well.
Facilities available in Flying Hospital
The Airbus A310 MRT MedEvac consists of 44 hospital beds along with 16 intensive care units. Space for 25 crew members including medical staff is also there.
Medical equipment like patient monitors, bronchoscopes, ultrasound systems, patient warming systems and defibrillators are present in the aircraft.
Europe sticks together
German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said on social media that “Any help across borders is now important. That is why we are helping with our flying intensive care unit of the Air Force to transport seriously ill people from Italy to Germany for treatment. Europe sticks together.“
Air Force tweets
The Air Force tweets on twitter that they have completed the work successfully. The 6 intensive care patients from Bergamo landed in Cologne with our #A310. They are then shifted to clinics in Cologne, Bonn and Bochum. Along with @SanDstBw, more flights are planned in the next few days.
Geschafft. Die 6 Intensivpatienten aus Bergamo ?? sind mit unserem #A310 in Köln gelandet. Sie werden weiter transportiert in Kliniken nach Köln, Bonn und Bochum. Zusammen mit @SanDstBw sind weitere Flüge in den nächsten Tagen geplant. #COVID19 #StrongerTogether @GermaniaItalia pic.twitter.com/MoNnhD25lw
— Team_Luftwaffe (@Team_Luftwaffe) March 28, 2020
Germany extending its helping hands
Germany is helping other countries as well. Earlier they have sent some helicopters to France to bring some of its sick residents to Germany to receive medical care there.
France Minister for Armed Force tweets
Operation Resilience – Army Caiman helicopters are supporting several patients with COVID-19. From Metz, they will shift them to Germany. They will be kept in the hospitals capable of accommodating them.
I spoke to German counterpart yesterday @akk to define and specify the modal qualities of this operation. I deeply thank our friends from Germany for their support and solidarity. We all share a single goal: defeat the COVID-19.
Opération Résilience – Des hélicoptères Caïman de l’armée de Terre vont prendre en charge plusieurs patients atteints du Covid-19. Depuis Metz, ils les transporteront jusqu’en Allemagne, vers des hôpitaux en capacité de les accueillir.
— Florence Parly (@florence_parly) March 28, 2020
On April 16, Coronavirus cases in Italy reached 168,941 including 22,170 deaths and 40,164 recovered.
