AP gears up to meet rise in Covid cases

Vijayawada: Given the steady rise in Covid19 cases, the Andhra Pradesh government has geared up its machinery to meet any emergency and curb the spread of the virus as also to treat the infected.

The government has directed all district collectors to open Covid Care Centres in their districts based on requirements. On an average, five to 10 such centres would come up in each district. They would pay special attention on Covid- designated government hospitals as for availability of beds attached with medical oxygen and ventilator support in ICU wards.

Availability of general beds with requisite medical equipment and necessary infrastructure like power supply etc too will be ensured.

The government has directed the AP Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation to procure personal protective kits for health personnel to wear while attending Covid-infected patients, testing kits, N95 masks, sanitisers, home isolation kits, lab material, medicines, injections etc some 15 days ago. The ordered materials are being delivered in a phased manner to the state.

Meanwhile, the state health authorities are re-arranging 706 Covid hospitals and 175 Covid Care Centres. Many of them remained unused in the last few months as the daily caseload had come down. Nearly 28,000 beds with medical oxygen and ventilator support in ICU wards are being arranged in addition to nearly 15,000 general beds with a total availability of 43,000 beds by the time the coronavirus spread reaches its peak before the month-end.

The state health authorities say though both the Delta and Omicron variants are spreading, the number of cases requiring hospital admission is less. Only 380 beds were occupied for Covid treatment in the state as on Friday even as there now are 18,313 active cases.

The number C- deaths is also less compared to figures in the first and second waves of the pandemic.

They have observed that those infected with Covid are showing only mild symptoms like cold, cough, fever and body pain, while some are asymptomatic. The infected patients are becoming normal in just two to three days now.

However, the health authorities have cautioned children, the aged and those suffering with multiple health complications including those immunosuppressed to be careful and avoid contact with Covid-infected persons.

State health director Dr Hymavathi said, “We have issued calls to all the districts to enhance Covid tests, vaccination and health care to the infected people.”

Officials said the state government is planning to use the new antiviral drug Molnupiravir once it gets ICMR approval and the present drug regimen in isolation kits remains unchanged.