Even as Covid-19 cases are declining in Odisha, an increasing number of patients requiring ICU treatment in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack has become a major cause of concern for the State Health authorities.
As per available data, Capital City Bhubaneswar has 1494 active cases by July 20 of which 801 (more than 50 per cent) are under treatment in different hospitals. Of the total hospitalised patients, 552 are in ICU while 99 under ventilator support.
The situation in the Silver City Cuttack is also alarming. The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) accounts for 1220 active cases of the total 2,559 active cases in the district. Out of the total active cases, 1028 are undergoing treatment in hospitals.
Also Read
However, what is more worrisome is that 593 patients are in ICUs while the total ICU strength is 853. Similarly, 131 of the total ventilator beds are occupied. While 70 per cent ICU beds are occupied, only 22 per cent ventilator beds are vacant.
DMET Chief Dr CBK Mohanty said, “We cannot say that the rate of infection did not decline in the Twin City. Definitely the cases have declined if we compare the situation of three-four weeks back.”
He said Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are administrative, business and health hubs. Therefore, the number of cases is high in both the cities.
Additional Commission of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Laxmikant Sethi said, “The number of Covid patients is high in Bhubaneswar, but that does not mean all of them are from the city. As there is massive influx of people to Bhubaneswar from other places in the State, the number seems bigger.”