Odisha: Avoid unnecessary hospitalization, government tells Covid-19 patients

BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Friday appealed people testing positive for Covid-19 to avoid rushing to hospitals in panic.
In a video message, additional chief secretary (health) Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra said hospital beds should be left for critical patients while most others would do better if they stay in home isolation and seek treatment.
“Precious hospital beds should not be occupied by those who don’t need it. My sincere appeal is please make way for critical care patients in hospital. If not needed, please don’t come to hospitals,” Mohapatra said.
The senior health administrator said while people in general with 92 to 95% oxygen saturation can be home, those with comorbidities may need extra care and hospitalization.
“Team of experts are available round the clock to provide consultation to patients in home isolation, he said, where patients can recover better in a home ambience rather than facing unpleasant hospital experience. If hospitalization is needed, the government will facilitate that sending ambulances to the patients’ doorsteps,” he said.
The senior health department functionary’s appeals came amid rising cases of hospitalization in the state due to spurt in cases. Currently, 5217 patients are hospitalised including 1426 in the ICU. As many as 3791 patients are admitted in general beds against bed strength of 8463 with a occupancy of (44%), which has been steadily rising. The occupancy in ICU is 69% as 1426 patients are admitted against 2063 ICU beds. As many as 270 patients are in ventilator support.
After a record 8681 more tested positive, the state’s active cases went up to 61,698 on Friday.
Stating that nobody had imagined the second wave of the pandemic would be so ferocious, Mohapatra said, “No health expert can estimate with certainty what will happen and where we will land.”
The ACS health said while new infections are rising fast in some states, its impact may be gradually felt in Odisha. “In such a scenario, my sincere appeal to people would be to stick to covid appropriate behaviours, wear masks, maintain social distancing and don’t go out unless it is necessary,” he said.
Mohapatra said the state is prepared to support 40,000 beds with oxygen if needed and has no shortage of any critical care medicines.