Pune: Situation in district improves; oxygen shortage easing too

PUNE: The district, with a Covid caseload of over two lakh patients, has also registered high recoveries.
According to data, doctors here have been able to treat eight out of 10 patients.

The oxygen shortage in the district is showing signs of easing as well.
Pune Collector Rajesh Deshmukh told TOI on Saturday that the amount of medical oxygen being supplied to hospitals by factories, after the 80% medical-use reservation, had improved the situation.
“After the allocation, hospitals in Pune district have not reported a shortage of oxygen. We are also catering to oxygen demand from care units in the neighbouring districts,” Deshmukh said.
State authorities had recently increased the oxygen supply quota from manufacturers to hospitals to 80%, from the earlier 50%.
The district has also appointed a committee to oversee oxygen supply lines. On Saturday, the Union health ministry directed states not to place restrictions on vehicles transporting oxygen.
But local authorities haven’t been able to assess the spread of infection.
Surveillance programmes, at least in the city have struggled to get off the ground. Recently, the PMC had to call off health surveys for housing societies due to inadequate turnout.
“Many did not even allow us into their premises. Such is the level of awareness and fear here,” one citizen volunteer told TOI.