Nagpur’s Covid cases drop by 6,000, TPR by 3% last week

NAGPUR: Covid-19 positive cases dropped by around 6,000 in the district in the last one week as compared to previous week. Sunday saw cases falling to 5,007, which was the lowest tally in a day in 26 days.
According to experts, these are indications of the curve flattening and the exact picture will be clear after May first week.
Of the 5,007 cases reported on Sunday, 2,724 were from the city, 2,269 from rural and 14 from other districts. On April 6, cases were 3,75. Since then, the tally has been above 5,100 on all days with the highest 7,999 cases coming on April 24.
Between April 26 and May 2, the district recorded 45,182 cases for a daily average of 6,454. During this period, 1,59,406 tests were conducted for a daily average of 22,772. Thus, test positivity rate (TPR) was 28.34%.
The district registered 51,082 cases for a daily average of 7,297 between April 19 and 25. Tests were 1,61,543 for a daily average of 23,077. TPR was 31.62%.
A comparison between these two weeks shows decline in cases and TPR. Cases declined by 5,900 and tests by only 2,137. TPR too dropped by 3.28%. It shows cases declined not due to reduction in tests but due to drop in TPR.
The district had registered its first case on March 11, 2020. Peak of first wave was in the last two weeks of August and entire September. Since beginning of October, the cases continuously declined till second week of February this year. The district started witnessing second wave from the third week of February and rise in cases.
Infectious diseases specialist Dr Nitin Shinde told TOI that weekly growth rate of cases and TPR are on decline. “These are indicators of flattening of the curve. This is typically end of 10 weeks of second wave. Surges have receded by 10 weeks elsewhere in other countries. The district, especially city, is now in that phase,” he said.
On Sunday evening, number of vacant beds in private and government hospitals in the city increased to 373, of which 351 were beds with oxygen supply and 22 in ICU, as per data of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).
There were 241 beds with oxygen supply vacant in private and government hospitals in the city on Friday evening. There were 21 beds vacant in ICU. Thus, total number of vacant beds was 262.
On Thursday evening, 191 beds were vacant of which 175 with oxygen supply and 16 in ICU. Vacant beds were 160, of which 146 with oxygen supply and 14 in ICU, on Wednesday while on Tuesday 139 beds (134 with oxygen supply and 5 in ICU) were vacant. Before that there were no vacant beds in the city.
Guardian minister Nitin Raut on Sunday inspected newly developed Covid care centre (CCC) at Koradi. The Mahagenco in association with Datta Meghe Medical College and Shalinitai Meghe Hospital, Research Centre has developed the CCC.
Raut directed the officials of Mahegenco to increase the beds from existing 20 to 50 for patients of rural areas. Currently, 10 beds are with oxygen supply and remaining are non-oxygen beds.
The minister also inspected sub-district hospital (SDH) at Kamptee and gave directives to increase beds by 100. He also directed the officials to shift 42 metric tonne oxygen plant from Khaparkheda thermal power station to SDH.
Later, Raut inaugurated oxygen plant developed at Asha Hospital which will help in refilling 100 jumbo oxygen cylinders.