April 2020

Demand for temporary structures is reported to have soared following the Covid-19 outbreak that has claimed more than 32,000 lives worldwide since the disease was first reported in January. Losberger De Boer. a leading supplier of temporary structures, has reported a 50 per cent increase in enquiries across the Middle East for rapid deployment systems, which can be used as mobile hospitals, isolation areas or decontamination systems.

The rapid deployment systems division of Losberger De Boer is already supporting the efforts of medical professionals in Italy to combat the country’s outbreak of Covid-19, where hundreds of its tents have been installed to expand the country’s medical facilities.

The escalation of the pandemic has led to growing concern that hospitals and medical facilities around the world may become overwhelmed. As public and private healthcare providers review their patient capacities and work with governments to formulate preparedness strategies, some are looking at solutions to increase the number of patient beds. China successfully built two new hospitals in Wuhan in less than two weeks in its efforts to support victims of the virus and countries are currently sourcing similar solutions as part of their preparedness measures.

Tahar Zaouche, Losberger De Boer Middle East and Asia’s Rapid Deployment Systems Business Development Director, stated: “Shortly after the reports of Covid-19 cases in the region, hospital and clinic operators began contacting us to find out what structures could be utilised in the fight against the pandemic. We have experienced a 50 per cent increase in enquiries for our temporary medical solutions so far, with more enquiries every day.”

In 2014, Losberger De Boer designed, developed and delivered interconnected textile vacuum cabins that were hermetically sealed with an isolated air supply and extraction system in just three weeks. The specialised medical system served as the world’s only evacuation facility for highly contagious patients during the Ebola outbreak.

According to him, Losberger De Boer’s inflatable TAG and TMM tents are ready to use within minutes thanks to their inflatable frames. These tents can be carried by hand and installed by a team of up to two people using an electric inflator, he said.

The tents’ modular design enables them to be connected to each other in any direction. Each tent can be configured to accommodate up to 50 people, explained Zaouche.

“The inflatable tents can remain ‘in situ’ and operational for multiple months if required. Where longer-term solutions are required, Zaouche recommends Losberger De Boer’s modular isolation centre, which is a 600-sq-m structure large enough to accommodate multiple wards, waiting areas, laboratories and washroom facilities. Adequate space is available to ensure contagious patients can be isolated and treated without affecting patient flow within the hospital,” he stated.  

Rapid deployment systems ... from Losberger De Boer.