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This is an archive article published on October 14, 2020

Now hospitals in Pune see steady decline in new Covid cases

As on Monday, of the total 15,417 beds reserved for Covid-19 patients by PMC in government and private hospitals as well as Covid care centres, only 6,651 were occupied while 8,766 were vacant.

Pune covid cases, Pune coronavirus test, Pune Covid death, Pune news, Maharashtra news, Indian express newsAt a Covid-19 centre in New Delhi. (Express Photo: Amit Mehra)

Hospitals in Pune have started reporting fewer cases of new Covid-19 infections. An analysis till October 11, conducted by the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) health department, shows a definite easing of burden on health facilities.

As on Monday, of the total 15,417 beds reserved for Covid-19 patients by PMC in government and private hospitals as well as Covid care centres, only 6,651 were occupied while 8,766 were vacant.

The 1,902 vacant beds in dedicated Covid hospitals included 193 normal beds without oxygen, 1,440 beds with oxygen, 174 ICU beds without ventilators and 95 ICU beds with ventilators. The maximum beds were vacant at Covid care centres set up across the city. Of the 7,911 beds, only 1,047 were occupied while 6,864 were vacant, with the PMC keeping many centres closed temporarily.

Despite a slight increase in mortality rate due to the viral infection, the rate of recovery of Covid-19 patients in PMC areas is all set to cross the 90 per cent mark. The city still has 12,898 active cases, while 6,055 are in home isolation. There are 858 critical patients in ICUs across hospitals. In Pune city, a total of 3,830 deaths have been registered.

Across various hospitals, doctors said the number of new admissions of Covid-19 patients has reduced.

Dr Dhananjay Kelkar, medical director at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, said there was a definite downward trend in the number of Covid-19 infections. “Earlier, we had four to five critical patients waiting in our hospital to get a bed in the ICU. This is no longer the case. Like all epidemics, this one too has followed the standard bell curve and now we are seeing a reduction in the peak number of cases,” said Dr Kelkar.

“Earlier, nearly 50 new patients were being admitted daily. Now the load has dropped to 15 to 20 new admissions,” said Dr Sanjay Lalwani, medical director of Bharati Hospital.

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Dr Sanjay Pathare, medical director at Ruby Hall Clinic, said there has been a 30 per cent drop in new Covid-19 patients, but critical care patients continue to be admitted. “We get requests for treating critical cases and also, the non-Covid emergencies are being looked at in a bigger way,” said Dr Pathare.

According to Dr Sunil Rao, group medical director of Sahyadri Hospitals, there has been a drop in the number of patients in Covid wards, and there is now a need for local residents to remain vigilant about maintaining physical distance and ensuring that they wear masks as preventive measures.

Meanwhile, from September 15 to October 10, a total of 32.05 lakh residents have been screened as part of the state government’s ‘My Family, My Responsibility’ campaign. A total of 1.78 lakh residents with co-morbid conditions were identified. According to PMC health data, 1,348 residents have been found positive with Covid-19 after the home screening visits.

Also, a ward-wise analysis shows that Hadapsar ward had reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases (15,146) followed by Dhankawadi ward (14,680) and Sinhagad Road ward (11,824).

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition.    ... Read More

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune, a role that reflects his seniority and editorial Authority. He is a highly specialized journalist whose work demonstrates significant Expertise in the critical areas of urban development, governance, and sustainability, often linking policy to its on-the-ground impact across Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Editorial Role: As an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Ajay Jadhav contributes to the editorial direction and maintains high standards of Trustworthiness and quality in his reporting. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on the intersection of infrastructure, politics, and social development, with expertise in: Infrastructure and Civic Issues: Provides in-depth coverage of crucial development and urban governance topics. His work includes reporting on the glaring contrast between planned infrastructure projects (like private helipads) and the lack of basic facilities (schools and hospitals) in politically significant areas, highlighting accountability gaps. Politics and Governance: Consistently reports on political developments, scrutinizing decision-making that affects public life and development initiatives in Maharashtra. Sustainable Development & Environment: Demonstrates a commitment to responsible development by reporting on initiatives that successfully protect the environment while ensuring essential infrastructure development. Investigative and Policy Impact: National Impact: Ajay has written notable research articles on Conservancy staff which achieved a nationwide impact by directly contributing to the framing of policies aimed at improving the working conditions of waste-handling laborers. This demonstrates his capacity for impactful, evidence-based journalism. Additional Interests Personal Engagement: His background as a trekker and sports enthusiast suggests a keen personal interest in the environment and outdoor spaces, which likely informs his detailed and passionate reporting on sustainable development and civic issues. Ajay Jadhav's sustained focus on governance, his track record of high-impact policy-shaping research, and his critical eye for infrastructure gaps establish him as a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis in Pune and Maharashtra. ... Read More


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