Active case number almost drops to four-month low, but mortality rate worries PMC

“The PMC was seen as the city with the highest infection rate and now it also has the fastest recovery rate. This is all because of the focus on increased testing to identify and isolate the patients. The testing has not been reduced but the infection has come down. bringing the situation under control,” said Mayor Murlidhar Mohol.

However, he cautioned that the pandemic was far from over even though the infection rate has dropped. “Local residents have to be careful to ensure that the infection does not spread further… but if at all there is a second wave, the civic body is prepared to tackle the situation,” said Mohol.

A total of 17,459 new cases were reported last month, and 28,079 patients recovered in this period. While the number of infected patients rose by 12.22 per cent in a month, the number of recovered patients rose by 22.96 per cent, pushing down the percentage of active cases.

Of the total 15,417 beds in PMC areas, 74.69 per cent are vacant as only 3,902 beds are occupied by active patients, and 2,522 patients with mild symptoms are in home isolation.

As many as 195 of 551 ICU beds with ventilator capacity and 291of 574 ICU beds without ventilators are available. In city hospitals, 2,377 of 4,058 beds with oxygen capacity and 1,020 of 2,323 beds without oxygen capacity are vacant.

The civic administration has allowed private hospitals to treat non-Covid patients on reserved beds in the hospitals. Only 279 of the total 7,911 beds at Covid Care Centres across the city are occupied.