Covid update: Know how many positive cases in Okhla
In the last few days Covid cases have seen “exponential” rise in Delhi with the national Capital registering more than 10,000 positive cases in the last 24 hours on Wednesday.
As the data given by the city government health bulletin does not provide area wise break up it is difficult to know status of Covid cases in Okhla which like other parts of Delhi was hit hard in the deadly second wave claiming several lives, the OT on Wednesday talked with senior officials of two private hospitals to get some idea.
Many residents are still not taking the surge very seriously and could be seen flouting Covid protocol in public places.
Al-Shifa Hospital head Dr Javed told the OT over phone that the hospital admitted three Covid-positive patients on January 5 and there were four positive cases reported from the OPD where residents turn up after getting fever or other complications.
“One doctor is in home isolation after being Covid positive. We are all ready and have already reserved 50 per cent of our beds for Covid patients,” he said.
When asked about how many cases Delta or Omicron, Dr Javed said they don’t do genome sequencing and he is not in a position to comment on that.
With cases rising and Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said earlier in the day on Tuesday that “the third wave of Covid-19 has set in,” many residents were concerned about the Covid status in Okhla.
Another head of a private hospital in Okhla, who requested anonymity, told the OT over phone that 12 people who went for rapid antigen test were Covid positive. We have asked them for RT-PCR and the exact numbers will be know on Thursday, he said, adding that the third wave is knocking on our doors and residents need to be extra careful, following Covid protocol religiouisly.
How many cases were reported in other private hospitals in Okhla, including Indraprastha Apollo, Fortis Escorts, Holy Family, Cribs Hospital, and others could not be known. Also, the OT was unable to find our home isolation cases due to lack of data.
In 2021 during the second wave local hospitals were under stress and residents had faced hardship like other places in getting oxygen and hospital beds. It was then that the demand for a government hospital had picked up.
With cases rising it has been reported that hospitalisations are also increasing by the day.
Dr Suresh Kumar, the Director of Delhi’s Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Hospital or LNJP, told this to NDTV.
Of the 2000 beds reserved for Covid patients, only 45 are available, he said, as the daily admissions have shot up to 15 to 20, from two or three a day. “Right now, we don’t feel the pressure because we are fully prepared,” he added.
None of the patients have so far required oxygen or a ventilator, Dr Kumar said. The hospital is handling 35 Omicron patients.
