Late admission main reason for spike in deaths: RIMS
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 12 2021: One of the main reasons for the spike in the number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the last few days is late admission of patients in hospitals, said Dr Nepram Sanjib, Deputy Medical Superintendent of RIMS, Imphal.

In a video recording available with this paper, Dr Sanjit said the second wave of the Covid pandemic is more severe than the first wave and patients needing immediate medical attention should be admitted at hospitals in time.

Manipur reported the highest single day death toll of 20 yesterday and of the total, 7 died at RIMS, he said.

"RIMS has analysed the deaths, reported from the hospital yesterday and found five of the seven cases were diabetic and suffering from hypertension.

They also had underlying lung problems," he said.

Their oxygen saturation levels were low and in the range between 80 and 84.More importantly, doctors were not able to save the patients as they were admitted at the hospital very late and couldn't get timely medical treatment, he said.

Dr Sanjit also noted that hospitals like RIMS may report a higher mortality rate as most of the cases admitted are serious in nature.

The second wave now is different from the first wave in terms of severity.

Before the pandemic, the whole of RIMS hospital including the ICU beds consumed only about 60 medical oxygen cylinders in a day.

When the first wave of the pandemic was at its peak, the hospital consumed about 110-120 oxygen cylinders per day.

Now, amid the second wave, about 110 Covid patients at RIMS consume about 278 oxygen cylinders in a day.

This shows the severity of the second wave.

The lungs of COVID-19 infected persons amid the second wave seem to be damaged by the virus more rapidly.

Without timely medical interventions, the damaged lungs can't be reversed, he said.

However, the doctor emphasised that there is no shortage of medical oxygen at the hospital.

RIMS has sufficient medical oxygen as supplied and assisted by the Government, he said.

To flatten the infection curve and save lives, Dr Sanjit said people who have Covid symptoms should get tested immediately and seek medical advice and treatment.

Priority should be given to testing.

Hiding symptoms and getting self treatment without proper medical advice endangers one's own life and others also.

Police shouldn't have to chase people around to enforce Covid curbs.

People should follow the SOPs strictly and remain at home to break the infection chain, he said.

Dr Sanjit noted that the number of deaths at RIMS has come down to 4 today.

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