Kurnool: Amid concerns over the rise in the new COVID-19 variant JN.1, the Kurnool health administration is geared up and has readied Government General Hospital (GGH) to accommodate patients showing symptoms or contracting the new Coronavirus variant.
Altogether 75 beds have been earmarked for COVID-19 patients at the General Hospital, wherein 45 beds are allotted in the general medicine department, 15 beds in the paediatrics wing of the hospital, and 15 beds have been allotted in the pulmonology unit. All three units are equipped with life-saving medicines, oxygen supply, and ventilators, with doctors and paramedics manning these special wards at the hospital, the GGH officials said.
However, the hospital has not seen a footfall of patients showing symptoms of the new Covid-19 variant. “The hospital is fully geared up to take admissions and provide treatment to patients having symptoms of a new variant of COVID-19 that is JN.1, from the district and the adjoining regions. Nonetheless, no such patient was admitted to the hospital, so far,” said Dr V. Venkata Ranga Reddy, the superintendent of the GGH.
On the other hand, health officials at the Kurnool GGH have issued an advisory asking people not to panic about the new variant and follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour such as wearing masks, social distancing as well as avoiding overcrowded places and others.
Depending upon the footfall of patients suffering from the new variant of COVID-19, the bed capacity at the hospital could be increased to 200-250. The arrangements for enhanced bed facilities could be made at other units of the hospital such as Sushruth Bhavan, Super Specialty Unit, and Medical Wards.
The hospital has specialist doctors to treat patients suffering from the JN.1 variant and the medicare facility is equipped with four Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) plants, each having the capacity to generate 1,000 litres of oxygen, for seamless supply to the oxygen bed, if it is required.
Meanwhile, the district has been witnessing a surge in flu cases, including vector-borne diseases like chikungunya, malaria, dengue, and others. To treat such patients, the general medical units have been earmarked.
Furthermore, district health department officials said they are vigilant and mobilized primary and urban health centres to provide services to patients showing symptoms of the new variant. “We are also ensuring an ample supply of RT-PCR test kits in the district and alerted private hospitals to admit suspected patients of Covid-19 without any restrictions or delay,” said some of the officials.
