AgenciesConfirmed
17,636,307
Deaths
197,894
People in India are rushing unnecessarily to hospital, exacerbating a crisis over surging COVID-19 infections caused by mass gatherings, more contagious variants and low vaccination rates, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.
India's death toll is now pushing towards 200,000, and hospitals that do not have enough oxygen supplies and beds are turning away coronavirus patients.
The WHO is providing critical equipment and supplies to India, including 4,000 oxygen concentrators, which only require an energy source, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said.
Less than 15% of people infected with COVID-19 actually need hospital care and even fewer will need oxygen, he said.
"Currently, part of the problem is that many people rush to the hospital (also because they do not have access to information/advice), even though home-based care monitoring at home can be managed very safely," Jasarevic said.
Community-level centres should screen and triage patients and provide advice on safe home care, while information is also made available via hotlines or dashboards, he said.
"As is true in any country, WHO has said the combination of relaxing of personal protective measures, mass gatherings and more contagious variants while vaccine coverage is still low can create a perfect storm," he said.
India's death toll is now pushing towards 200,000, and hospitals that do not have enough oxygen supplies and beds are turning away coronavirus patients.
The WHO is providing critical equipment and supplies to India, including 4,000 oxygen concentrators, which only require an energy source, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said.
Less than 15% of people infected with COVID-19 actually need hospital care and even fewer will need oxygen, he said.
"Currently, part of the problem is that many people rush to the hospital (also because they do not have access to information/advice), even though home-based care monitoring at home can be managed very safely," Jasarevic said.
Community-level centres should screen and triage patients and provide advice on safe home care, while information is also made available via hotlines or dashboards, he said.
"As is true in any country, WHO has said the combination of relaxing of personal protective measures, mass gatherings and more contagious variants while vaccine coverage is still low can create a perfect storm," he said.
Read More News on
Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
3 Comments on this Story
 | Amit Sharma34 seconds ago Here the Prime Minister himself is the Prime Pracharak conducting Election Rallies in the states and that cause spreading of Corona.. |
| rajesh sajjanshetty3 minutes ago every covid pt doesn't need oxygen. But india has so many covid pts who needs oxygen, assisted breathing devices. For those pts we donr have beds, equipment. No country is prepared for this. |
 | Suresh Kamath28 minutes ago WHO Body may be right on their findings BUT when the PEOPLE on the Ground Levels are feeling the need to use of Oxygen and in spite of many Dr fraternity STATING that every Covid treatment DOES NOT need to be on Oxygen wonder why and HOW such a Situation AROSE where HOSPITALS are NOT able to admit these afflicted Persons and with so many casualty reported on Media making the others feel TENSE and anxious of the State of Affairs of HEALTH and are hoping with strong Prayers that such conditions are restored to NORMALCY sooner and with MOST of the NATIONS of the WORLD have set their Rescue MISSION to help India with Medicines, Equipment for the Hospital and Oxygen generators and STORAGE facilities to tide over such "TSUNAMI" of surge of Hospital rush INDIA will WIN over this sooner than soon and would be Obliged to these NATIONS for their Help in times of extreme NEED |