In Delhi’s hospitals, only 36% of the ICU beds are vacantfor COVID-19 patients. The up-to-date data that is shared by the hospitals on Delhi Corona app shows out of the 928 ICU beds (without ventilator) 591 (64%) are occupiedin 82 hospitals in the city.

Almost 28 big private hospitals don’t have any vacant ICU beds without ventilator support. ICU beds with ventilator support for coronavirus patients are available in 93 hospitals but data shows only 14 hospitals have 5 or more ventilator beds available. Overall, 39 hospitals have no ventilator beds while 40 other hospitals have less than 5 ventilator beds. The accessibility of general COVID beds has reduced significantly in the past few days due to a sudden spike in new cases.

Several patients from neighbouring states are also rushing to Delhi for treatment, resulting in scarcity of beds, according to the doctors. An official said that a total 14,185 COVID beds are available across Delhi. Out of this, 5,372 (38%) are occupied and 8,813 (62%) are vacant. Also, 11,613 COVID-19 patients are under home isolation.

Public health specialists have expressed their concern over rapid upsurge in new cases in Delhi in the past few days. On Monday, 2,077 fresh cases of coronavirus were reported taking the total to over 1.93 lakh.

The total death countreached 4,599 with 32 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours. Officials in the state health department said that 7,804 RTPCR/CBNAAT/TrueNat tests and 15,150 rapid antigen tests were performed in the last 24 hours. This is lower than the number of tests that were carried out in the last week, hence explaining the reduction in new cases. The positivity rate continues to be above 9%.

The total number of active cases in Delhi has crossed 20,000 mark and reached 20,543, which is more than double the number of active cases reported a month ago. If this trend of growing cases continues, then Delhi would need more ICU beds.

A senior doctor at Lok Nayak Hospital said that the demand for general COVID beds has reduced as most of the patients suffering from mild symptoms are recovering at home itself and they rush to hospital only when their condition worsens needing oxygen therapy. Many patients do require ICU care and arrival of patients from other states is one more major concern.

Source: ET Healthworld