Experts link increasing availability of ICU beds to decreasing cases of Covid infection More ICU beds available in Covid-19 facilities, but don’t lower guard: Docs

LUCKNOW: Availability of ICU beds at covid hospitals in the state has doubled in about a month’s time. There has been a simultaneous increase in the availability of high dependency unit (HDU) and isolation beds also, officials said.

As on Monday, of the total 445 ICU beds, 195 were available for patients while on November 7 there were 82 vacant ICU beds, according to the data received from the health department.

Experts link increasing availability of ICU beds to decreasing cases of covid infection though they cautioned people against lowering guard.

“Covid cases are reducing and the active cases have gone down but the risk by no means is over,” said Dr D Himanshu, senior faculty at the King George’s Medical University (KGMU) where 109 out of total 251 ICU beds are vacant.

According to the health department data on October 26 only 82 ICU/ventilator beds were vacant in the state capital. Back in March-April (when covid forced lockdown began) Lucknow had just 90 ventilator/ ICU beds. Slowly, more covid facilities came up. At present 31 hospitals are giving ICU facility to covid patients with KGMU accommodating maximum patients.

“Patients above 50 years of age took longer to recover. However, with correct and improved treatment, the recovery has been good and that is why more beds are now available,” said Dr Abhishek Shukla, secretary general association of international doctors.

“The risk still remains as people of all ages, especially the elderly, are still vulnerable,” he said.

Giving example Dr Vinod Jain, dean paramedical at the KGMU, said, “The positivity rate has gone down and is close to 1%. We tested 300 paramedical students who came to join classes and one among them tested positive.’