KDMC cases drop but no relief in demand for ICU, ventilator beds

KALYAN: The cases in Kalyan and Dombivli have reduced since the start of this week, even though the testing remains the same. The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), however, claimed that there was still no relief from constant demand for ICU or ventilator beds.

KDMC conducts around 5,000-6,000 tests per day. Earlier, when the cities recorded their highest single day spike of 2,552 on April 11, around 5,992 tests were carried out. On April 21, when the civic body conducted 6,020 tests, 1,231 new cases were recorded. However, since April 26, the cases have been in the range of 800-1,000 while the testing remained the same.

“The reduction in cases might be due to the restrictions imposed recently. However, those who are critically ill and admitted to hospitals are still occupying the beds and hence admission of new, severe patients is difficult as before. So, we cannot say there is a relief in bed situation due to the reduction in cases,” said Dr Pratibha Panpatil, epidemic officer, KDMC.

She added that there was no decrease in testing. Out of the 1,142 beds in civic Covid hospitals and centres, 1,139 are occupied.

Those critically ill and admitted to hospitals are still occupying the beds & admission of new, severe patients is difficult. PRATIBHA PANPATIL, epidemic officer, KDMC

These include ICU, ventilators, beds with oxygen and beds without oxygen. Beds, however, are available in the private centres, as out of the 2,563 beds, around 1,475 are occupied.

Sameer Sarvankar, medical officer, KDMC, said, “The beds in civic centres are almost full and most of the patients look forward to get admitted in civic hospitals as it is affordable. Although those beds in private hospitals are available, not many are ICU and ventilator beds. So, admitting critically ill patients is difficult there.”

April saw the highest number of deaths – 155. In January, KDMC recorded 39 deaths, 30 in February and 56 in March. Since the pandemic broke, the highest number of deaths recorded in KDMC was 275 in August, while the total deaths till now are 1,261.