The data shows that bed occupancy in Delhi hospitals has increased in the past two days – suggesting a slow increase in hospital admissions.
On January 5, 945 of 12,025 Covid beds were occupied. Of these, 11,405 hospital oxygen beds and 921 of them were occupied. Of 3,303 intensive care beds, 187 were occupied. In addition, 65 of 1,523 intensive care beds were occupied with ventilators.
Just a day later, the numbers seemed to have increased slightly. January 1,125 Covid beds were occupied, 1,099 oxygen beds were occupied and 213 Covid intensive care beds were occupied. Even the number of ventilators rose to 72.
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“Hospital admissions are very slow at the moment, but we have enough capacity in our facility. So there is no need to panic, ”said Dr. Vivek Nangia, Head of Pneumology at Max Saket.
Another doctor from Delhi said that while hospital admissions had increased compared to November and December, this was not a concern.
“If we compare hospital admissions from November to December last year, yes, they increased … We haven’t had admissions for a long time … But they are not worrying. Random positive results show that community expansion has already started in Delhi, “said DR Sahar Qureshi, Medical Superintendent Max Smart.
A health worker prepares a bed for the Covid-19 patients (Image: PTI)“Coincidentally positive” cases in the hospital in Delhi
Doctors said they witnessed “chance positive” cases – meaning that people who come for scheduled surgeries or treatments will test positive after initial screening tests in hospitals.
“I have people who were hospitalized ‘by chance positive’. These are the people who came for scheduled surgery and then tested positive … they have to wait to be cured,” said DR Vivek Nangia.
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There were 40 Covid admissions in the last week at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi. Thirteen of them were nurses.
“We are experiencing the third wave. Hospital admissions are increasing and we have also admitted 13 medical staff. But they don’t rely on the assistance of the hospitals advisor, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
What was the situation like during the second wave?
When the second wave began in the city in April 2021, the proportion of hospital admissions was higher. April last year, the active case number was 10,048 and the daily cases were 2,790 – with 1,971 occupied beds, 1,709 required oxygen support, 747 required intensive care beds and 231 required ventilators.
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Similarly, on April 2, when the active case count was 11,994, up to 2,255 patients were hospitalized, 1,956 required oxygen assistance while 808 were in intensive care and 249 were on ventilatory assistance.
A suspected Covid-19 positive patient is treated in a hospital. (Image: PTI)
There are currently more than 14,000 people in domestic isolation in Delhi. However, once the elderly become infected, it could have an impact on health systems.
The health system impact is expected even though the elderly and those with comorbidities are not recommended for home isolation as per central government guidelines.
“If the number of cases increases, we don’t know what the situation would look like if [Covid-19 starts affecting] elderly and comorbid people, “said Dr. Vivek Nangia, Head of Pneumology, Max Saket.
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Delhi government expands health infrastructure
On Thursday, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said hospital bed occupancy and infection severity were very low during the third wave.
He said the government was preparing to keep an eye on the worst case scenario. The number of beds has increased from over 9,000 to over 12,000, he said.
Satyendar Jain said the discrepancy between hospital bed occupancy data on the Delhi Corona app and the health bulletin was due to “most of the beds in hospitals have been converted to oxygenated beds.”
“Having patients on beds like this doesn’t mean they need oxygen. Having a patient on a ventilator bed doesn’t mean they need ventilatory assistance, ”said Satyendar Jain.
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