Number of Covid-19 patients needing hospital care up in Karnataka

BENGALURU: The number of Covid-19 patients needing to be hospitalised in Karnataka has increased significantly in the past four weeks. Bed occupancy, as on May 8, was 2% of the 14,000-odd beds reserved for Covid-19. Now, it stands at 13% of the nearly 22,000 reserved beds. In absolute terms, about 280 patients required a bed in May and 2,800 now.
Government data says the state has 84,776 beds in its 30 districts — 19,639 in Bengaluru (Urban and Rural together) — of which 21,728 have been reserved for Covid-19 and 3,470 of them in Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts. More than 86% of the 21,728 beds are isolation beds, 6,695 with oxygen facilities, 2,105 ICU beds and 1,000 with ventilators.
“With the number of cases rising, we decided to increase the number of beds. Most are in government facilities and easily accessible to people,” a senior official told TOI.
Data shows that of the 21,728 beds, 10,259 and 4,795 are in public facilities and dedicated Covid treatment centres, respectively. Only 3,820 beds are in private hospitals, while there is no break-up provided for the remaining 2,854 beds.
On the increase in the number of patients needing hospitalisation, Dr C Nagaraj, director, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, said: “Given our population, this is still a good percentage which indicates that things are under control.”
Other officials said the focus on reducing the number of deaths is the primary reason for a higher percentage of bed occupancy.
Dr MK Sudharshan, chairman, Karnataka Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19, told TOI: “The Centre’s guidelines prescribe that only moderate and severely ill patients be hospitalised, which is being followed in states like Delhi and Maharashtra, which are managing mild cases at home. However, in Karnataka, the government is focused on reducing deaths. We achieve this by treating even mild cases in hospitals.”
He said clinical infrastructure is being used to treat a larger number of cases. “Although Karnataka’s fatality rate is among the lowest in the country, deaths are continuing. This is because people aren’t coming to the hospital immediately. In many cases they come on the fourth or fifth day of developing symptoms, which is too late.”
A district-wise analysis shows northern districts have higher percentage of bed occupancy. While Yadgir and Raichur have more than 40% of Covid beds occupied, it is 27% and 25.4% in Kalaburagi and Bidar. In Bagalkot, Koppal, Belgaum, Gadag, Dharwad, Haveri and Ballari, it is between 4% and 17%. Hassan with nearly 18% of beds occupied, and Chikkaballapura with 24.3% are other districts with a high percentage of occupancy. In comparison, it is 6.3% in Bengaluru Urban and 4% in Bengaluru Rural district.
“There are two reasons for districts in North Karnataka having a high percentage: One, the increasing number of people returning from other states and second, the number of beds are fewer compared to other districts,” another official said.