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I've been looking into healthcare preparedness across Europe, and there are some surprisingly large variations. #Germany and Austria began the #COVID19 pandemic best prepared for a surge in hospital admissions; the #UK and Ireland were least prepared [THREAD]
![I've been looking into healthcare preparedness across Europe, and there are some surprisingly large variations. #Germany and Austria began the #COVID19 pandemic best prepared for a surge in hospital admissions; the #UK and Ireland were least prepared [THREAD]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EWNwGyIXsAAFzHm.png "I've been looking into healthcare preparedness across Europe, and there are some surprisingly large variations. #Germany and Austria began the #COVID19 pandemic best prepared for a surge in hospital admissions; the #UK and Ireland were least prepared [THREAD]")
Looking at Eastern Europe, #Russia has as many hospital beds per capita as Germany... but with 2/3 of Russian cases in Moscow, hospitals here have been overwhelmed. #Turkey and #Albania, meanwhile, look worst prepared
Efforts to bulk up healthcare capacities have included the rapid construction of field hospitals and an upscaling of ventilator production. But shortages of staff and protective equipment present further bottlenecks everywhere
As countries start to lift their lockdowns, the priority will shift to testing. In western Europe the #UK and #France are the laggards on this measure
In eastern Europe, testing in the #Baltics compares favourably with that in Switzerland, the most effective country in western Europe. In contrast, the western Balkans look least prepared for the next stage in this pandemic [END THREAD]
![In eastern Europe, testing in the #Baltics compares favourably with that in Switzerland, the most effective country in western Europe. In contrast, the western Balkans look least prepared for the next stage in this pandemic [END THREAD]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EWNxscnXsAEhHKI.png "In eastern Europe, testing in the #Baltics compares favourably with that in Switzerland, the most effective country in western Europe. In contrast, the western Balkans look least prepared for the next stage in this pandemic [END THREAD]")
