As virus spreads, Codissia complex to transform into 400-bed care centre

Coimbatore: Another 47 people were tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the district on Thursday, taking its count to 608.
With more and more people contracting the virus daily, almost 360 beds in the ESP Hospital are already occupied. To keep the remaining beds in the hospital ready for symptomatic patients, the health department authorities are now racing against time to set up a 400-bed Covid care centre at Codissia, where asymptomatic cases would be put up.
The city is also seeing a steady flow of Covid-19 patients from other districts for treatment. Transport minister M R Vijayabaskar’s 53-year-old brother is one among them. He is admitted to the Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital. The PSG Hospitals, meanwhile, has 15 patients from Kallakurichi.
The public health authorities on Thursday sent a man from Podanur to the Pollachi government hospital for treatment after he tested positive for the virus. Dr G Ramesh Kumar, deputy director of public health, said, “He is the first Covid-19 patient to be sent to Pollachi. Once the Codissia centre gets ready, we may transfer him to that facility. The ESI Hospital still has at least 600 more beds, but they are reserved for symptomatic patients.”
Earlier, 19 patients were sent to a Covid care centre in Uppilipalayam.
While officials were initially planning to convert the Codissia hall into a 200-bed Covid care centre, they have now decided to equip its D hall with 400 beds. “We have already arranged the beds. The facility has 20 toilets. We will allot one staff nurse for every 25 patients and one doctor for every 50 patients. While the patients will be asymptomatic, they will be closely monitored for blood pressure, oxygen saturation and body temperature, etc. They will be given vitamins, zinc supplements, arsenic album, kabasura kudineer and ivermectin, among others,” the deputy director of public health said.
After getting the Codissia facility ready and running, officials have plans to convert the quarantine centres in Pollachi, Annur and Mettupalayam into Covid care centres.
Meanwhile, 10 new cases - comprising a 45-year-old staff of the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital and people from Sri Nagar in Peelamedu, Telungupalayam, Idigarai, Kothari Gardens in Singanallur, Nilambur, PN Pudur, Selvapuram and Jothipuram - were not included in the Thursday’s list. They are likely to be officially declared on Friday.