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Udupi : Since one week, there is sharp increase of second wave of COVID-19 in Udupi district which has been great concern for the administration. It may possible to increase the positives rates and there should need to take awareness on Corona pandemic, said District Collector G Jagadeesh.

Addressing a media conference at his office courtyard on Friday, April 23, after meeting with elected representatives of the district, DC said that prior to second wave of the COVID-19, there was only 2.5 percent positives in the district, 15 days back it was increased to 5.45 percent and one week before, it was increased to 7.72 percent. But, since three days, the positives rate increased to 10.50 percent. It might be increase of positive rates in coming days in the district, DC Jagadeesh said.

Prior to 15 days, the positives in the district were below 50 persons and since one week it was increased to 100 cases of positives. Since three days there were 926 new cases of test positives and the average per day crossed 300 positive cases. This will be great concern for us and we prepared to face the increase of positive cases, he said.

However, DC said that there should need to take awareness and take care of corona infection by the people at large. Even if there are no symptoms of the virus, need to test in the hospitals. As soon as the knowledge of infection of virus, need to admit the hospital immediately. We do not have any beds shortage in the hospitals and even we have plenty number of ICU beds as well as ventilator beds, he said.

DC said that presently there are 1165 active cases prevailed and out of that only 280 corona patients admitted in the hospitals. Prior to one month, we have only 5 percent corona infected persons with symptoms, but now increased to 25 percent. In near future it may possible to increase 40 percent. Presently, 13 ventilators, 35 ICU beds and 6 HFNC only filled, he said.

G. Jagadeesh said that since January only 4 deaths occurred in the district due to coronavirus infection. On the present situation, it may possible to increase the ICU beds. When the demand of ICU beds increases, then it will be possible to increase the death rate. Hence, we held meeting with private hospitals and informed them to reserve 50 numbers of beds for covid patients, he said.

DC further said that presently we have 41 ICU beds, 46 ventilator beds, 12 HFNC and 480 Oxygen beds in government hospital. In private hospitals we have 629 oxygen beds, 428 general beds, 100 ICU beds and 13 HFNC beds available. Out of that 49 oxygen bed, 158 general beds, 27 HDU, 44 ICU and 8 HFNC beds were engaged, he said.

Every day, more than 3000 COVID-19 tests are conducted in the district which one of the highest in the state. Therefore, it will help to identify the infection at the earliest. Presently, Jnanaganga PU College has been only Containment zone declared in the district. We already de-notified to MIT Manipal, he said.

DC Jagadeesh said that Dr. T. M.A. Pai Hospital at Udupi, the management agreed to provide two floors of the hospital for the corona patients. If needed, they agreed to provide further two floors when the patients increase. In Manipal hospital also they already given 20 beds and ICU beds and if demand increases they promised us to increase the 200 beds, he said.

DC requested the people that we have sufficient number of beds and when people found the symptoms of coronavirus infection, immediately admit in the hospital at the earliest and it can possible to save the life.

There will be no shortage of oxygen in the district for the time being we have enough of stock. In district hospital we have 6 KL tanks, in KMC Manipal there are 20 KL tanks available. We ordered Jumbo cylinders from Mangaluru. Moreover, in Belapu near Kaup 25 KL refill plant will be get ready and will work start from Monday, he said. As per the government direction, there should need to reduce the demand from the industries and need to give priority to save the life. We are going to take care to avoid the shortage of oxygen in the district for the corona patients, he said.

ZP CEO Dr. Y Naveen Bhat, Additional DC Sadashiva Prabhu, District Superintendent of Police N Vishnuvardhan and Divisional Officer K Raju were present during the press meet.