Thiruvananthapuram: As the Covid-19 cases soar in the district, occupancy in intensive care units (ICUs) and ventilators in Covid hospitals has risen alarmingly over the past eight days. ICU occupancy in Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital (TMCH) and Sree Avittam Tirunal (SAT) Hospital rose from 54% to 77% between April 10 and April 18.
As on Sunday, 99 of the 110 ICU facility for Covid-19 were occupied in TMCH. Of the 136 ICU facilities in Covid hospitals, 105 have been occupied till Sunday. A week ago, 46% of the ICU facility was vacant in Covid hospitals.
Occupancy has increased for ventilators as well. While 68% of ventilator facility was vacant a week ago in Covid hospitals in the district, only 31% was vacant by Sunday. At present, 53% of ventilator facility is occupied.
In TMCH, which carries a major share of Category C patients (which include those who have been critically ill or those who are immuno-compromised), 49 patients including suspects are put on ventilator care. Only 11 beds are vacant in the ICU at TMCH.
The bed occupancy in Covid hospitals have also risen proportionately within the past one week. Between April 10 and April 18, bed occupancy increased from 42% to 67%. Of the 538 beds available in TMCH, general hospital and SAT, 361 were occupied as on Sunday.
As much as 3.27% of the total active cases in the district are in ICU and 1.08% of active cases are on ventilator care in the district. At TMCH, where ICU is nearing the surge capacity, currently houses 131 Category C patients. Private hospitals in the district are handling 104 Category C patients. The medical college still accommodates 5% of cases which are under Category A (those with mild symptoms).
Ninety-seven percent of patients admitted to general hospital are under Category B (moderate risk). Private hospitals handle 45% of patients under Category B and 28% of patients under Category C.
More than half of the Category C beds were vacant until a week ago.
As on Sunday, 64% of Category C beds were occupied in the district. Even there has been an increase in Category A beds; marking a rise from 14% to 53% in one week.
The daily test positivity rate which went above 5% on April 8 has been soaring steadily in the district. While it touched 13.39% on April 16, it dropped slightly to 10.94% on April 17. On Sunday, it climbed back to 11.58%.