Covid-19: In many states, ventilators lie unused & defunct as netas bicker
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Last Updated: May 16, 2021, 11:59 AM IST
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Synopsis
While most states said they do not have trained personnel to operate ventilators, others complained of unavailability of parts like humidifier kits and nozzles that are essential to run them. Many even said that they had ventilators but no ICU facilities or adequate space to install them. Doctors in many states are not using them, fearing they may malfunction, endangering lives.
AFP
Many even said that they had ventilators but no ICU facilities or adequate space to install them.
(This story originally appeared in
GUWAHATI: Three northeastern states, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, have figured among the top five Indian states with the lowest death rate in.
Fancy Bazaar wears a deserted look during the curfew period in Guwahati on Thursday
GUWAHATI: The Assam health department feels the state may witness the peak of the second wave towards May-end as the number of new cases continues to remain on the higher side.
On Thursday, 75 Covid-related deaths were reported, taking the number of casualties to 304 in the last four days. Though the number of daily cases has marginally dropped to 5,468 from 5,657 cases the previous day, the positivity rate has gone up from 8.85% to 9.18%. The recovery rate stood almost static at 85.59%.
Though chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had insisted on carrying out about 1 lakh Covid tests daily, the number declined to 59,594 on Thurdsay against 63,956 tests done across the state on Wednesday.
GUWAHATI: The Assam health department feels the state may witness the peak of the second wave towards May-end as the number of new cases continues to remain on the higher side.
On Thursday, 75 Covid-related deaths were reported, taking the number of casualties to 304 in the last four days. Though the number of daily cases has marginally dropped to 5,468 from 5,657 cases the previous day, the positivity rate has gone up from 8.85% to 9.18%. The recovery rate stood almost static at 85.59%.
Though chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had insisted on carrying out about 1 lakh Covid tests daily, the number declined to 59,594 on Thurdsay against 63,956 tests done across the state on Wednesday.
A healthcare worker checks a Covid testing kit in Tezpur on Tuesday
GUWAHATI: Hospitalization of routine cases has been restricted in government hospitals and medical colleges in Assam to keep maximum beds free for Covid patients.
The state health department has asked all medical college hospitals and other government healthcare facilities to send patients home who are ‘now fit’ and can be treated at home. The directive has become a cause of worry as some patients feel they are safer under the care of doctors.
Speaking to
TOI, director of medical education, Assam, Dr Anup Kumar Barman, said the move, especially in Guwahati, was undertaken on Tuesday to resolve a possible crisis of beds. Guwahati comes under Kamrup (Metropolitan) district, which has recorded an alarming rise in new positive cases compared to other districts in rural areas.