Kolkata: As COVID cases rise, more private hospitals across Kolkata have reopened their isolation units that were closed down about a year ago. With festival congregations being organized last week, a further spurt in the transmission is feared that could lead to more hospital admissions over the next fortnight.
Private hospitals say they are getting a steady flow of inquiries while the number of admissions has risen marginally.
Ruby General Hospital has five COVID patients and has introduced a 17-bed Covid unit, including ICU facilities, after almost a year. “So far, we have had a highest of 11 patients admitted about a week ago. The number has slid, but we fear that due to the Bengali new year and Eid celebrations, there could be a spurt towards the end of April,” said Ruby general manager, operations Subhashish Datta.
Medica Superspecialty Hospital has six COVID patients. “We have dedicated 10 beds for COVID patients. Two patients were discharged on Saturday and we currently have six patients,” said Ayanabh Deb Gupta, co-founder and joint MD of Medica Hospitals. He added that this time, most have a moderate disease and are getting discharged within three-four days.
Fortis Hospital, which had two patients admitted last week, now has three. One is admitted at the ICU and has comorbidities. “We have restarted a 10-bed Covid unit. In case the numbers rise, more beds could be added,” said a Fortis spokesperson.
CMRI Hospital has reopened a three-bed Covid unit, which is now fully occupied. The number could rise till the first week of May, said CMRI pulmonology director Raja Dhar. “This is a small wave which will probably peak two weeks from now, and then the number of cases could plateau. It may remain there for another week and then plunge,” said Dhar.
He added that since masks and social distancing have been discarded, festival congregations have led to this spurt. “It has been neutralized by the heat to an extent. Also, the current variant is neither very potent nor highly transmissible,” Dhar said.
Last week, Charnock Hospital restarted a Covid isolation centre, which includes an ICU facility. Four COVID patients are now admitted. “We are extending the unit to accommodate 10 patients and it will be ready by Monday,” said MD Prashant Sharma.
AMRI Hospitals have 22 COVID patients across its three units, each of which now has a Covid unit with a total of 35 isolation beds. While the Mukundapur unit has a 16-bed isolation unit, Dhakuria has an eight-bed unit and Salt Lake has an 11-bed unit.
Peerless Hospital has two COVID patients in a four-bed isolation cluster which is set to be extended. “We are bracing for more admissions over the next few days and are ready to add another isolation cluster,” said CEO Sudipta Mitra.
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