Hospitals in Kolkata are witnessing a fresh rise in the number of Covid patients admitted and at least one of them has increased Covid beds while some others said they would have to do the same if the trend continues.
These hospitals said every day, three to four Covid patients were being admitted.
Belle Vue Clinic in south Kolkata had nine Covid patients on Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning, the number had gone upto 19. On Thursday, the number went up to 22.
“We have increased 10 beds on Thursday because of the sudden sharp rise in the number of patients,” said Pradip Tondon, the CEO of Belle Vue. The hospital increased the number of Covid beds from 34 to 44 on Thursday.
Another hospital, too, is thinking of increasing Covid beds if the trend continues for a few more days.
RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences had around 12 patients admitted about a week back. On Thursday, the Mukundapur hospital had 23 patients, seven of whom were from Kolkata.
“The number has been jumping almost every day. From around 12 patients a week back, it went upto 15, 20 and now around 25. If the trend continues for another week, then we will have to increase Covid beds like we did at the beginning of the second wave of the pandemic,” said R Venkatesh, regional director, east, Narayana Health, which runs the RN Tagore hospital. The hospital has 45 Covid beds now with 23 in the critical care unit.
The number of Covid patients admitted at Charnock Hospital has doubled from around 10 a week ago to 20 on Thursday.
“We have decided not to let go of the Haj House in New Town that we had taken as a Covid safe house because of the rise in the number of cases,” said Ipsita Kundu, the CEO of Charnock Hospital.
Peerless Hospital, too, has recorded a gradual rise in Covid cases over the past few days, from around 20 admitted patients to around 30 now.
“After the second wave, there were days when we would not have a single Covid patient taking admission. But now we have three to four patients getting admitted every day,” said Sudipta Mitra, the chief executive of the hospital.
AMRI group had over 30 patients admitted to its three units across the city. An official of the hospital said there was a steady flow of patients everyday now.
Public health experts warned people to be cautious with the festival season approaching. They said complacency could be dangerous.
“There is a sense of complacency among a large section of the population. The fear during the second wave is now gone. Many people with mild Covid symptoms are staying at home and not getting tested,” said Abhijit Chowdhury, public health expert.
“Also, many people are still not wearing masks in public places,” he said.
Chowdhury said people should not drop their guards because India is still in the grip of the pandemic.
“Last year also, there was a surge in cases after Puja. There was a slow increase and then a sharp rise in Covid cases across Bengal,” he pointed out.
