Covid-19 cases in Pune for the last one week decreased by over 25,000 cases with its peak marked on April 19, 2021, reported The Indian Express on April 27.
During its peak, the city reported 1.25 lakh Covid-19 cases. On April 26, this number reduced to about one lakh cases, which still ranks second highest in India after Bengaluru. On a daily basis, Pune continues to report more than 10,000 cases although this number too dropped below 6,200 cases on Monday; the lowest this month.
While this data offers some relief in terms of new patients, hospitals are still scrambling to provide patients with other facilities such as hospital beds, oxygen, or life-saving medication like Remdesivir. Speaking to the paper, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Executive Engineer Yuvraj Deshmukh, who coordinates oxygen supplies, said that a reduction in number of active patients is “a good sign.”
“The number of active patients is on the decline in the last eight days. But the demand for medical oxygen has not gone down, since the number of hospitalised patients has not yet started to reduce. We are somehow managing the supply of medical oxygen to meet the demands of civic and government hospitals,” he said.
Meanwhile private hospitals said they experienced no change in the flow of critical Covid-19 patients, many of whom are struggling to avail hospital beds. According to Deputy Medical Director Jitendra Oswal, Bharatiya Hospital has refused at least 10 serious cases for ICU admissions every day. Meanwhile, those admitted spend at least a week in the ward. The hospital has 75 ICU and 58 ventilator-equipped beds that are all occupied as of Monday.
Similarly, the Noble Hospital with 55 ICU beds, all occupied, receives more than 50 calls requesting admission to the hospital. Even the Symbiosis hospital reported difficulties in dealing with shortages.
CEO Dr Vijay Natarajan told the media, “If we can stop progression of moderate disease by giving Remdesivir at the correct time to those who need it, several ICU admissions can be prevented.”
However, the PMC has also reported a shortage of the drug. District administration has been trying to ensure adequate supply of the drug to public and private hospitals despite receiving fewer Remdesivir injections as compared to demand.
Prior to the lockdown, the state health department estimated a rise in the number of active cases as high as 1.8 lakh cases by the first week of May. It also estimated a dearth in facilities like ICU beds and ventilators. Meanwhile, Covid fatalities were reported to be an average of 55 deaths as per the Indian Express.
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