Covid Hospitalisation Across Country Sees Sharp Rise, But Most Cases Mild

Only A Handful Need Oxygen Support

The wail of ambulance sirens is getting a little frequent. Hospital emergency rooms are getting busier, and buzzier. The rush is almost inevitable as cities like Chennai, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi are registering a rapid rise in coronavirus infections and a spike in hospital admissions lately. But most cases are mild and only a few needed ventilator or oxygen support.

Chennai registered a more than three-fold increase in the number of patients in hospitals: 1,754 patients on January 3, compared to 507 on December 3. On January 4, the inpatient tally rose to 1,931. With this, nearly 14% of total beds in Tamil Nadu were occupied as against 4% a month ago. Besides, more than one-fifth of the oxygen beds in the state were taken, compared to 6% a month ago.

In Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, the Delhi government’s biggest pandemic hospital, there were 10 Covid patients in November-end. It has reached 70 now. The government has asked all hospitals and nursing homes having over 50 beds to reserve 40% of them for Covid cases, as was done during the second wave.