Dist to get one more Covid care centre as tally nears 3K

Coimbatore: The district recorded 189 new Covid-19 cases and four deaths on Friday, even as 180 patients were discharged from various hospitals after they fully recovered. While the total number of novel coronavirus cases in the district has touched 2,966, of which 1,275 are active cases, the toll now stands at 32.
As the district is expected to record at least another 800 cases over the next five days, the health department has begun efforts to ramp up bed strength.
The new cases include 14 from the Rapid Action Force base in Mahalingapuram in Vellalore, seven from CK Colony in New Siddhapudur, another seven from Saramedu and five from Palli Street in Veerakeralam. Outside the city corporation limits, the Annur cluster continued to grow with five more people testing positive for the virus.
The remaining cases were spread across RS Puram, Ukkadam, Vedapatti, Sundapalayam, Chettipalayam, Karumbukadai, Puliyakulam, Ondipudur, Sulur, Kuniyamuthur, Saravanampatti, Vadamadurai and Vellaikinaru.
One of the four deceased was a 52-year-old man, who was rushed to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital on Monday with severe head injuries that he sustained in a road accident. His throat swab was taken for testing the same day. He had coronary artery disease as well. He died on Tuesday. Meanwhile, test results showed him positive for the virus.
The remaining were a 70-year-old diabetic, who was hospitalized on Tuesday and died of severe pneumonia on Wednesday at 4.30pm; a 61-year-old man with comorbidities such as diabetes and renal failure who died on Wednesday, two days after hospitalization; and a 59-year-old man, who was admitted to the ESI Hospital on July 18. He died of severe breathing difficulty on Thursday morning, after 60% of his lungs was affected.
The public health department is, meanwhile, working on setting up another Covid care centre, this time on the Karunya University premises at Madhampalayam. It will have 360 beds and start accommodating patients when the Hindusthan Hospital at Mettupalayam gets full.
The newly opened Covid care centre at Codissia trade fair complex would take two more days to admit patients as authorities are constructing extra toilets for patients. Dr G Ramesh Kumar, deputy director of public health, said, “We are constructing 15 mobile toilets each for men and women, to make the stay more comfortable for patients.”
While the district’s Covid-19 tally is estimated to touch 4,000 by August 1, the state health department, which expect the count to hit 3,800 by July 29, has asked health officials ready themselves for any emergency situation.
“We are well prepared for any number of cases. Fortunately, most of the cases are asymptomatic or have extremely mild symptoms like sore throat and fever. As long as we ensure that only people who need hospitalization occupy hospital beds, there won’t be any shortage of beds,” the official said.
Many private hospitals that had obtained approval to treat Covid-19 patients have begun admitting them and ramping up their bed strength. City-based Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital has allotted another 100-bed hospital, KMCH Kovilpalayam, for the purpose.