Critical patients on ventilator support at record high in Ludhiana district

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 26

The count of critical Covid patients on ventilators has touched a record high in Ludhiana district. This was despite the fact that the daily fresh cases of the deadly virus have fallen to a record low in the devastating second wave of the pandemic here.

Though Ludhiana has made a remarkable turnaround from being the worst-hit to the safest district in the state with a massive drop in the daily positivity rate within less than a month, the sudden rise in the number of seriously ill persons on life support has become a cause of concern.

The data compiled by the district administration, which is available with The Tribune, revealed that the number of critical cases on ventilator has touched a record high of 64 on May 25. This was the highest ever figure of patients put on artificial life support in the district so far. On May 12 also, the same number of 64 critical patients were put on ventilator support here. However, the count came down to 51 on May 26.

Officialspeak

The comorbidities and delayed reporting to the hospitals are the main reasons for the critical condition of the patients, who are required to be put on ventilator support. We have made adequate arrangements in both government and private hospitals for the treatment of such cases but we appeal to the people to immediately report to their nearest health centre or doctor on showing the virus symptoms so that they shall get timely treatment. — Varinder Kumar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner

The official figures showed that the number of patients on ventilators has been gradually increasing since May 1 when 42 serious cases were put on artificial life support.

The number came down to 41 on May 2 and 3; 35 on May 4; again going up to 41 on May 5; 47 on May 6; 52 on May 7; down to 50 on May 8; again rising to 54 on May 9; 56 on May 10; down to 53 on May 11; touching record high of 64 on May 12 before once again falling to 58 on May 13; 57 on May 14; 53 on May 15; 52 on May 16; going up to 54 on May 17, 61 on May 18; down to 55 on May 19; once again rising to 60 on May 20; down to 57 on May 21; 51 on May 22; 52 on May 23; 60 on May 24; once again touching a record high of 64 on May 25 and coming down to 51 on May 26.

The district has 274 ventilators — 256 in the private hospitals and 18 in the government sector.

Comparatively, the highest number of critical patients on ventilator support in the first wave was recorded at 49 on September 15.

When it comes to the lowest numbers, the district had witnessed only six days since the pandemic broke when there was no patient on ventilator support here. January 23, 24, 27 and 28 and February 7 and 15 recorded no patient on artificial life support in the district.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.