New Delhi, January 10:
India is witnessing a hospitalisation rate of 5-10 per cent in the third Covid wave, the government said today, adding that the situation is “dynamic and evolving and the need of hospital care may change rapidly”. In the second wave, the official data says, the hospitalisation rate was in the range of 20-30 per cent.
A massive surge of 1.79 lakh fresh cases was recorded this morning; the daily positivity was reported to be 13.29 per cent. About 10 days ago, the country was registering an average of 10,000-15,000 cases daily.
“The rise, it appears, is being driven by the Variant of Concern (VOC) “Omicron” and the continued presence of another VoC “Delta” in large geographies across the country,” the Health Ministry said today,
All states and union territories have been asked to keep a daily watch on oxygen beds, ICU beds, and ventilator support. The Covid Care centres have to be upgraded to oxygen-supported beds when required, the government has said, also underscoring on engaging junior doctors, nursing, and MBBS students to ensure adequate healthcare staff.
Amid the alarming surge, Delhi, Maharashtra, and other states have been insisting they are prepared to handle the spike in infections with an adequate number of hospital beds.
