Hospitals resume, ramp up virtual consultations as Covid cases rise in West Bengal – ET HealthWorld

The Covid positivity rate in Bengal spiked steeply on Monday when it hit 9.6% from 5.1% the previous day. Health officials said the steep rise was due to low testing. The state also reported 551 fresh cases. Against 157 patients under hospital care on Monday, the number of those under home isolation was over 3,900.

Since the beginning of June, the count of patients needing hospital care has gone up five times while the number of those in home isolation has jumped by 12 times. Doctors said many in home isolation are seeking online treatment citing reasons like having elderly or kids at home.

“All our three units have started getting calls from patients under home isolation. We have team ready for online consultations and will shortly re-launch our service,” said Rupak Barua, group CEO, AMRI Group of Hospitals.
“We don’t have any Covid patient admitted, but we had virtual consultations with eight on Monday,” said pulmonologist Raja Dhar, director, pulmonology wing at CMRI.

“With a high number of patients in home isolation, the demand for tele-consultation is on the rise. If required, we will escalate our services,” said Sudipta Mitra, CEO, Peerless Hospital.

Doctors said some were also seeking virtual consultation out of anxiety despite not needing medication.

“Our team from pulmonary and critical care are consulting online with patients in home isolation. They are mostly asymptomatic,” said R Venkatesh, region director (east), Narayana Health.