More recoveries in UP but bed availability big concern

Daily recoveries have started outnumbering new cases in Uttar Pradesh, bringing down active cases substantially even as the number of tests remain high. However, limited availability of ICU beds remained a grave concern, with delay in getting critical care leading to deaths.

The state has been continuously reporting a higher number of recoveries than daily cases since May 1. On May 1, 30,317 new cases were reported, while 38,826 people recovered/ got discharged. The trend followed throughout and on Thursday, number of people who got recovered/discharged stood at 28,902, against 26,780 new cases. This, despite the state continuing to test around 2.20 lakh samples every day, unlike some states that have decreased testing.

"It is due to the state's aggressive track, test and treat policy that we have been able to bring down active cases by more than 50,000 since April 30, in one week," additional chief secretary, information, Navneet Sehgal said on Thursday, adding that the state is also increasing its RT-PCR test capacity, for which new machines and semi automatic extractors have been installed, while more than 350 testing/lab staff has been appointed.

However, deaths continue to remain elevated with many relatives complaining of lack of critical care and delays in getting ICU and ventilators as cause behind the deaths of their loved ones. Barring two days in between, the state has been reporting more than 300 deaths since May 1 and reported 353 deaths on Thursday.

ET dialled up helplines of some districts including Gorakhpur, GautamBuddha Nagar, where it was told that there were no ICU beds available. If private hospitals do have vacant beds, many people in dire need are unable to afford them. 20-year old Raman (name changed) from Gorakhpur told ET he had put out an SOS on Wednesday evening for his 50-year old father who was admitted in an L2 hospital. "I kept running around but could not arrange for an ICU bed. It was available in one private hospital but they were charging lakhs. He died in the night," he said. Another kin of a patient who was admitted in a private hospital in Greater Noida recalls the delay with which he was taken to the ICU in the same hospital, which proved fatal for him.

Dr DS Negi, director general of department of health in Uttar Pradesh told ET , while ICU beds are being increased across the state, the state has taken a step to start "peripheral hospitals". Negi said close to 150 Community Health Centres (CHCs) found at the village level will have 50 beds each for Covid care, and will also be equipped with oxygen concentrators, so that people, at least in the villages, get treatment at the right time, preventing their condition from worsening to a point where they need to be taken to an ICU.