Deaths of past weeks recorded now on Covid portal

KANPUR: Over 300 deaths that occurred in Kanpur four to five weeks ago have been accounted for on the Covid-19 portal recently. The figures were updated gradually by both government and private hospitals, where these Covid fatalities were reported.

Sample this: As per the portal, Kanpur’s fatality count stood at 1,748 on Sunday and 1,790 on Monday – an increase of 42 in a single day. But actually, no death was reported in the city in these 24 hours, as per data from the health department.

Kanpur had reported 1,187 Covid deaths till May 1. By May 15, the figure rose to 1,583 and the tally went up to 1,700 on June 1.

Between June 1 and 7, hospitals updated the Covid portal with 90 more deaths and the count stood at 1,790 on June 7 and it further increased 1819 on June 9, according to health department’s data. But only one death was reported during this period, said sources in the health department.

It is not clear why death figures on the portal were not updated in real time, as is mandated. Chief medical officer Dr Nepal Singh said the health department has asked GSVM Medical College and private hospitals to update the portal by June-end.

In two weeks, 161 deaths at LLR hospital (run by GSVM Medical College) and 177 at private hospitals in Kanpur have been added to the portal while only 3-4 deaths were reported during this period, said officials of the health department.

“Total 338 deaths have been added in the past 15 days. Hospitals are slow in sharing death related details. The figures are still trickling in,” said a senior official of the health department.

The 161 deaths at LLR hospital were uploaded on the directorate of medical education portal and not on the Covid-19 portal. Authorities at the medical college said the operator responsible for uploading the details had contracted Covid and did not come for 25 days, said officials.

“All these people, who died, had tested Covid positive in the rapid antigen test when they were brought to hospital for treatment. Their samples were taken for the RT-PCR test, but they passed away before the results could come in. The portal was updated after that,” said a health department official.

A few private hospitals shared the details about Covid deaths after becoming noncovid medical facilities, he added. “Three nursing homes shared details of 19 deaths (that occurred 16 days ago) and updated the portal recently. On June 4, seven deaths were added to it, followed by 10 more on June 5 and nine on June 6, said the official.

“We have sent notices asking government and private hospitals to update the portal in the next 48 hours. We are surprised at the way the deaths were not disclosed at that time and now the figures are being updated. The medical college too has been asked to clear the backlog,” said the Dr Singh, CMO.