Nagpur: The fatality rate for Covid-19 patients coming to Nagpur from other districts, divisions of Maharashtra and adjacent states is shocking 73%, reveals figures provided by the civil surgeon (CS).
Alarmingly, the number of
outstation patients is just 0.61% as compared to total Covid-19 cases of Nagpur district. But they account for 14% of total deaths reported in Nagpur district.
As per the CS data, out of 1,11,477 total Covid-19 cases in Nagpur till November 29, only 681 are from other states/divisions who visited the city for non-Covid ailments but later tested positive. Of the 681 patients, 499 died due to Covid-19. The district’s overall toll is 3,654.
According to doctors, when patients report at a very serious stage for their non-Covid ailment they are unaware of their Covid-19 status. After testing positive, their condition deteriorates.
Being a medical hub of Central India, Nagpur is a preferred destination for patients from across the region for treatment of all types of serious ailments. During the pandemic, Nagpur has been treating serious Covid-19 patients from all 11 districts of Vidarbha and also from the adjacent states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Patients who are diagnosed with Covid-19 at their native place are considered as ‘referred patients’ and not added to the case count of Nagpur district. If such patient dies during treatment in Nagpur, the death is counted in the account of their respective native district/state.
But there are some people who come to Nagpur as non-Covid patients or simply non-Covid travellers. They get infected in Nagpur and get diagnosed Covid-19 positive here. Even if they are not resident of Nagpur, they get counted in the Nagpur district’s Covid-19 tally.
The CS office keeps separate record of such patients under the head of ‘Patients outside district’. Covid in-charge of a leading private hospital told TOI that patients from other states and districts come to the city in serious condition. “The deceased comprise already serious patients who come to city for tertiary treatment. Unfortunately, they get infected during their treatment. It’s difficult to save such patients,” he said.
OUTSTATION BURDEN: FEWER CASES, MORE DEATHS
* 1,11,477 | Covid-19 caseload of Nagpur district
* 79% | 88109 cases from city
* 20.3% | 22,687 cases from Nagpur rural
* 0.61% | 681 cases from outstation
* 3,654 | Deaths in district till Nov 29
* 69.18% | 2,528 deaths from city
* 17% | 627 from Nagpur rural
* 13.65% | 499 outstation patients
* 3.27% | Case fatality rate of Nagpur district
* 2.8% | Case fatality rate of city
* 2.7% | Case fatality rate of Nagpur rural
* 73.2% | Case fatality rate of outstation patients in city