The increase in deaths from infection coincides with the increase in the absolute number of cases, experts say. The last lakh of cases has been reported in Delhi in just 15 days. Among cities, Delhi has the highest number of cases in the country. Mumbai, another city with almost the same population, has recorded 2.7 million cases to date. However, Mumbai has reported 10,615 deaths compared to the 7,943 deaths recorded in Delhi.
Among all the states and territories of the Union, Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases (16.3 lakh), followed by Andhra Pradesh (8.6 lakh), Karnataka (8.3 lakh), Tamil Nadu (7.4 lakh), Kerala (5.4 lakh) and Uttar Pradesh (5.2 lakh). Delhi is the seventh state to cross the five lakh mark of cases.
The sudden increase in new cases has overwhelmed the city’s health infrastructure, leaving many seriously ill patients searching for beds.
According to the Delhi Corona app, which provides real-time updates on hospital bed availability, 92% of ICU beds with ventilator support and 87% of ICU beds without ventilator support are occupied.
There were no ICU beds available at Guru Teg Bahadur, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Max (Shalimar Bagh, Patparganj and Saket), Apollo, BLK and Manipal hospitals, among others. “We get a lot of requests for ICU beds, but none are available,” said a senior doctor at one of the best private hospitals. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who visited GTB Hospital to review preparation for the crown, met with doctors and hospital administration to discuss increasing ICU beds and other facilities, said on Wednesday that the government state will increase a total of 663 ICU beds in all its hospitals in the following days.
“Apart from this, with the Center securing an additional 750 ICU beds, around 1,400 beds will be increased in Delhi hospitals in the coming days,” he said.
Dr. Sumit Ray, president of intensive care at Holy Family Hospital, said the death rate from Covid-19 has increased at the current peak, also known as the third wave, compared to the peaks seen in June and September. “This time, we are seeing more seriously ill patients. The death rate is very high among people with diabetes and obesity,” he said.
The tests have increased, which is leading to more cases, an official said. In the last 24 hours, he added, 62,232 people were tested for Covid-19 in Delhi, of which 12.03% (7,486) tested positive.
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