PGIMER’S COVID HOSPITAL NOW 50% OCCUPIED
CHANDIGARH: With Chandigarh witnessing a surge in number of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in the past week and a half, the basic infrastructure reserved for the isolation and treatment of the patients in the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has got occupied to half its capacity.
The dedicated Covid-19 hospital established in the Nehru Hospital Extension Block of the PGIMER has 200 beds, of which 30 are ventilators. Presently, 100 patients have been admitted here, which include 93 active cases from Chandigarh, while seven from neighbouring states.
Confirming the same on Tuesday, PGIMER director Dr Jagat Ram said there has been huge influx of Covid-19 patients which are being referred from Government Multi Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, and Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32.
Dean (academics) GD Puri said, “We are regularly upgrading the arrangements as per the feedback of the officials concerned.”
EXIGENCY PLANS
The health department has predicted 3,600 active cases at the peak in the city, out of which 360 would develop severe symptoms that will require comprehensive care in the hospitals.The department has planned to exhaust 90% capacity of the PGIMER hospital after which the patients would be admitted to the civil hospital in Sector 48, the second dedicated Covid-19 hospital in the city.
The 10% capacity will be reserved for severe cases. Subsequently, patients with mild or no symptoms will be admitted to covid facilities planned at Sood Dharamshala in Sector 22, Panchayat Bhawan in Sector 18, hostels of Panjab University, GMCH-32, private hospitals and nursing homes.
PGI BEGINS TRIALS FOR PLASMA THERAPY
Following the nod from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the PGIMER has started calling up patients who have recovered from Covid-19 for donation of plasma for convalescent plasma therapy on critical patients.
Since the exact role of this therapy in the treatment of positive patients is still debatable, the ICMR has decided to conduct a multicentric study for clarification.