Over 50pc corona beds at PIMS filled

ISLAMABAD   –  Above 50 percent novel coronavirus (COVID-19) designated beds at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) were filled with infected patients on Monday.

As the virus positivity ratio in the capital has surged to 10 percent, the number of patients being admitted to PIMS has also increased.

According to the District Health Office (DHO) data, 2,383 COVID-19 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, out of which 261 people were tested COVID-19 positive, while the virus positivity ratio has surged 10%.

One COVID-19 death was recorded in the capital in the previous 24 hours.

According to the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city has reached 85,780, while 82,628 patients have recovered from the virus and 793 people lost their lives in the city.  

The daily data on COVID-19 situation at PIMS said that a total 140 COVID-19 beds have been allocated in the hospital and 76 are occupied.

It also said that 21 ventilators have been separated for the virus infected patients and five are occupied with the patients while 16 are still available.

According to the data, 99 High Flow Oxygen (HFO) beds are available in the hospital and 61 of them are under utilisation of the patients and 38 are vacant.

Details added that 20 beds for low flow oxygen are also designated for COVID-19 patients and 10 of them are occupied.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government Services (FGS) Polyclinic Hospital also observed a surge in admission of COVID-19 related patients.

The daily stats report available with The Nation said that out of total 37 allocated COVID-19 beds in the hospital, 12 are occupied with patients. Nine ventilators in the hospital are designated for COVID-19 patients and five of them are filled with patients.

Details also said that two HFO beds out of five are also occupied, while five low flow beds out of 23 allocated are also filled with patients.

Spokesperson, Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) Sajid Shah said that confirmation of the new variants and violation of COVID-19 health Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) has added to the number of patients.

He also said that it is pre-mature to predict an increasing number of COVID-19 patients, but certainly during Eid holidays, violation of SOPs was reported across the country and specifically on tourists’ spots.

“It is possible that the cases will increase in upcoming days again,” he said.

Sajid Shah further stated that twin cities have reported an increasing number of COVID-19 delta variant cases, and this has resulted in admission of COVID-19 patients in hospitals again.

“However, the vaccination drive is continuing successfully in Islamabad and hopefully it will reduce the impact of severity of the infection,” he said.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on NHS Dr. Faisal Sultan had said that the COVID-19 delta variant’s local transmission has started in the country.

Briefing the Senate committee, the SAPM had stated that the NCOC has data on different COVID-19 variants in the country, while hospitals do not have it.

Dr. Faisal said that the COVID-19 variants are examined in the laboratory and the surveillance of the delta variant has been detected in Islamabad and Karachi while Karachi also has the South African variant.

He said that the delta variant has been reported in 95 countries, however, it is not possible to say how many cases of delta variant are in the country.

SAPM on NHS had confirmed that the delta COVID-19 variant was locally transmitting now.

Meanwhile, the government on Monday received three million doses of United States (US) based novel corona (COVID-19) vaccine Moderna through COVAX facility.

A statement issued by World Health Organization (WHO) said that the second consignment of 3 million doses of Moderna (mRNA-1273) COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Government of the United States to the COVAX Facility arrived in Pakistan during early hours of Monday, bringing the total doses donated by the US Government to Pakistan through COVAX to 5.5 million since 8 May.

It said that the donation is part of the 870 million additional COVID-19 vaccine doses pledged by the G7 through the COVAX dose-sharing mechanism to support global equitable access to vaccines in 2021 and 2022, with the aim to deliver at least half by the end of 2021.

Article source: https://nation.com.pk/27-Jul-2021/over-50pc-corona-beds-at-pims-filled