HP’s Covid positivity rate spikes by 6% in a week
Bilaspur, Hamirpur join Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Sirmour districts with positivity rate of more than 20% between May 3 and 9
SHIMLA Himachal Pradesh recorded a Covid-19 positivity rate of 26.3% last week, a jump of more than 6% as compared to the rate from April 26 to May 2.
“The districts of Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmour and Solan have recorded a positivity rate of more than 20% between May 3 and 9,” state in-charge of the National Rural Health Mission Dr Nipun Jindal said on Tuesday.
The state has ramped up testing as it conducted 1,02,455 Covid tests last week, while 84,351 tests were done in the preceding week. The case fatality ratio has shown a decline in the past week from 1.38% to 1.17% the week before.
Health department spokesman Gopal Berry said that the state-level Covid clinical committee is conducting virtual capacity building sessions for stakeholders.
One such session was held on May 8 and 9 for the judicious and appropriate use of remdesivir and oxygen with the focus on the management of patients in home isolation.
Experts of the State Institute of Health and Family Welfare organised a webinar on the management of paediatrics and epidemiology diagnosis and infection prevention practices. Besides, a panel discussion of experts was held on the treatment to be started and precautions to be taken during home isolation.
Efforts on to normalise non-Covid health services
The health department is making efforts to provide non-Covid essential services such as maternal, newborn and child-care besides dialysis, tuberculosis treatment, HIV and maintenance of voluntary blood donation. Chief medical officers and medical superintendents have been asked not to delay essential services to any patient for want of a Covid-negative test result.
“All health-care providers should follow precautions, observe infection control procedures and get themselves vaccinated against Covid-19,” Berry said.
No shortage of O2 supply in hospitals, says CM
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday said an adequate supply of medical oxygen was available at health institutions across the state and more oxygen plants were being setup to augment the supply.
Currently, oxygen plants are functional at the zonal hospital, Dharamshala, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) Hospital, Shimla, medical colleges in Chamba, Shimla, Tanda, Ner Chowk, Hamirpur and MMU, Kumharhatti.
“The Defence Research And Development Organisation (DRDO) will setup oxygen plants at five more health institutions,” the CM said, adding that the state is producing 75.81MT oxygen per day against the daily consumption of 27.83MT.
There are a total 4,728 Type-D oxygen cylinders and 1,535 Type-B cylinders in the state and the state has urged the Centre to provide 5,000 more Type-D and 3,000 Type-B cylinders to the state, the CM said.
The Union ministry has provided 75,000 personal protective kits and 75,000 N-95 masks to the state.
“There are around 3,700 beds available in different health institutes across the state and almost half of them are unoccupied. We also have 244 intensive care unit (ICU) and 1,804 oxygenated beds. The bed capacity will be enhanced by 1,100 in makeshift hospitals at the earliest,” he said