More cases post Tasmac, transport opening predicted

About a month ago, the daily cases were about 50-60 when only about 350-400 samples were tested. But after the Health department scaled up the number of samples to about 13,000, cases have gone past 500 in the last few days. At this rate of spike, the existing beds would not be sufficient, said Dr Sivakumar, chief of Medicine department at Government Villupuram Medical College Hospital and member of the expert committee constituted by the State government.

“The hospital beds should be reserved for critical patients. For example, if there are 200 asymptomatic patients in a hospital and if positive cases suddenly come, we cannot shift the asymptomatic patients to other centres. To avoid such situation, alternative arrangements are being made. After Tasmac reopening and when public transport starts functioning, then the number of cases might increase,” he said.

Most of the cases reported in the city are being treated at government hospitals, as the private hospitals are charging a hefty amount for the treatment.

Though the State has come out with a new policy of home isolation for asymptomatic and stable patients, the availability of beds is already shrinking rapidly. There are 2,281 active cases in city, while the RGGGH, Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, Government Stanley Medical College Hospital and Government Omandurar Medical College Hospital have about 1,700 beds.

The health department has arranged care facility that can accommodate about 4,000 asymptomatic, non-critical patients. But with the current rate of increase in cases, the facility is likely to be full within a week.

“Also, the quarantine facilities would also require more medical professionals and other staff members. If the number of cases continue in the current pace, we might have to accommodate 1,000 cases a day. Majority of the cases are in Chennai, so the government has to come up with a proactive approach,” said a doctor at the COVID ward at RGGGH.