Oxygen capacity to be increased in Kovai hospitals

At ESI hospital in Coimbatore, the nodal treatment centre for COVID, the oxygen capacity is being increased from 2 to 11 kilolitres (KL). “The ongoing work to increase the oxygen capacity will be done in a week’s time. Thereafter 250 to 300 more beds can be added to treat patients who require oxygen support,” said A Nirmala, dean of Government Medical College and ESI Hospital.

 Currently, the hospital has 100 ICU beds and 350 with oxygen support facilities. “On average, 150 patients undergoing treatment at the hospital are under oxygen support. Once the oxygen capacity is increased, then more patients can be accommodated,” she further said.

 Similarly, the oxygen capacity is being increased at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), too, in tune with the requirement.

 CMCH has about 350 beds with oxygen support and over 200 normal beds. “We are planning to convert these normal beds into oxygen supported ones in a phased manner as most of the patients coming for treatment have complications and comorbidities. On average, there are over 300 patients undergoing treatment at the hospital with oxygen support,” said P Kalidas, dean of CMCH.

 “There is definitely no short supply of oxygen. The hospital has a 13 KL oxygen cylinder and it is being filled up on a daily basis as per the requirement. Works are underway to have a dedicated oxygen facility with 1 KL capacity each for SARI ward and COVID-ICU in the hospital,” he added.

 Coimbatore recorded 587 new COVID cases on Monday, taking the total tally to 30,915 so far.

Avinashi Government Hospital in Tirupur has been closed temporarily for three days after a team of frontline staff tested positive for coronavirus on Monday. Six frontline staff, including a chief doctor and three nurses, tested positive for the virus. The public, who came to test, were sent to a nearby primary health centre. The hospital will reopen on October 1.