77 pc ICU beds in Kangra unoccupied

Tribune News Service

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Dharamsala, June 8

The burden on hospitals in Kangra, the worst-affected district, has eased as the number of Covid cases has come down drastically.

46 beds available in Tanda college

• A week ago, Covid patients were scrambling for oxygen-equipped beds
• At present, 77 per cent ICU beds and 67 per cent oxygen beds are unoccupied
• Of the 60 ICU beds in Tanda medical college, 14 were occupied on Tuesoday

Just a week ago, corona patients were scrambling for oxygen-equipped beds. Now 77 per cent ICU beds and 67 per cent oxygen beds are unoccupied. As per the data collected by The Tribune, of the 60 ICU beds in Tanda medical college, 14 were occupied today.

For the past two months, the super-specialty wing of the college had been converted into a Covid hospital. As the number of Covid patients has decreased, the opening of the super-specialty wing for other patients is being demanded.

Principal of Tanda medical college Dr Bhanu Awasthi said the super-specialty wing would be made operational at the earliest.

There are 412 oxygen beds in district hospitals of which 136 were occupied. As the demand for oxygen beds had risen suddenly in April and May, the district administration had taken over the 50 per cent bed capacity of eight hospitals. A 250-bed centre was also created at Paraur by the Radha Soami sect.

Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati said in the last two month, a huge infrastructure had been created in the district. It could tackle any surge in future.

He said that the death rate in Kangra from March 2020 to March 2021 had remained at 2.34 per cent. In the last one year, 2,98,884 samples were collected of which 9,578 turned out to be positive, 8,753 recovered and 225 lost their life.

Though the number of infections has dropped significantly, the district administration and the state government are not offering much relaxation. Shops and business establishments have been allowed to open for just five days in a week till 2 pm. Since there are restrictions on the entry of tourists, hotels in the region are yet to open.