Chennai: In 15 days, number of Covid-19 patients at home halves, 25,866 people recover

CHENNAI: In the past 15 days, when the number of Covid-19 inpatients in city hospitals and Covid care centres has declined, the number of people in home isolation has also halved. As on July 14, 6,812 patients are in home isolation, 3,908 in Covid care centres and 5,094 in hospitals. Two weeks ago, 11,493 patients were in home isolation, 6,250 in hospitals and 4,867 in care centres.
Besides, 25,866 people have recovered in the last 15 days – the most on July 10 (2,869), July 7, (2,853) and July 6 (2,573).

Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner, G Prakash said the the number of cases would dip further. "We have been able to cross 13th day post the lockdown with no spike in cases. The numbers should decline soon. Our focus is now to reduce fatalities. We have held discussions to take measures that would ensure patients with strong symptoms get treated even before their test results come," he said.
The number of doctors, nurses, screening centres and treatment facilities will be strengthened further. "We will also encourage community participation in flattening the spread by enabling residential welfare association to be part of the disease prevention strategy through awareness and making them stakeholders in the process to enforce self-discipline in their neighbourhoods," said joint commissioner (health) P Madhusudhan Reddy.
Epidiomologists, however, say the dip in cases is due to increased testing, strengthening of surveillance and the lockdown effect. The TPR (test positivity rate), a measurable quantity to check the spread, dropped to 8% on Wednesday.
P Ganeshkumar, assistant director of National Institute of Epidemiology, said there was no doubt there was a positive trend. "When we increase testing and strengthen surveillance, we do not just identify more cases but also identify them early which limits the spread. But recovery from the infection depends on various factors. However, corporation’s role in setting up screening centres and ensuring that every positive patient gets treatment based on their symptoms within hours of getting their test results has helped," he said. An exclusive team at the control room ensures the patient gets a bed or required treatment immediately, he added.