Cases rise, but hospitals in city still have enough beds

Chennai

The newly built TNSCB tenements in Pulianthope was converted into COVID care centre to house asymptomatic patients
Photo: V Naresh Kumar

According to data from the Greater Chennai Corporation, only 1,395 patients were under treatment at the four government hospitals that are designated as COVID-19 hospitals as on Friday morning. “As per Friday update, the city has 12,762 cases, of which 6,330 have been cured and 6,229 are active cases. Of these, only 1,395 patients are in hospitals while the remaining patients are either in COVID care centres or under home isolation,” an official said.

In other words, 77.60 per cent active cases are asymptomatic and are kept in COVID care centres or home isolation.

The Corporation had already set up COVID care centres to accommodate and treat persons who are positive but do not have any of the major symptoms. Also, the civic body is sending asymptomatic patients to home isolation if their houses are deemed fit for the purpose. Only patients with severe symptoms are admitted to the hospitals to ensure active medical attention.

As per the data, 4,834 out of 6,229 patients are asymptomatic. Of these, 1,520 patients were sent to COVID care centres functioning in educational institutions in 16 places in the city. As of now, patients are admitted in only nine centres. The remaining 3,314 patients have been sent to home isolation. This was done to reduce the load on the COVID-19 hospitals and make space for symptomatic patients who require intensive medical care.

Also, 895 beds are vacant in the city hospitals and COVID care centres as on Friday. The government hospitals, including Omandurar Government Multi-Specialty Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, have 500 and 450 COVID beds respectively. Government Stanley Medical College Hospital and Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital have 400 beds each. Of these, around 350 beds are empty. Apart from this, COVID care centres have 540 vacant beds, officials said.