Maharashtra: Cases cross 850-mark in Akola, administration takes over 2 private hospitals

NAGPUR: The district collector of Akola has taken over two leading private hospitals in the city after the number of Covid-19 positive patients crossed 850-mark on Tuesday. Even after a good recovery rate of 63%, Akola still has 279 positive patients admitted in isolation ward of GMCH.
Looking at the high number of Covid-19 positive patients reported from Akola every day, the administration decided to take over the private hospitals.Akola is the first district in Vidarbha region to take such a step.
Now, these two hospitals — along with all infrastructure and staff — will be handed over to the civil surgeon to treat Covid-19 patients. Acquisition of private hospitals is permissible by the local administration as per ICMR rules as well as under the Epidemic Act.
Directives issued by Akola district collector Jitendra Papalkar said the two private hospitals must ensure that qualified doctors, trained staff, and technicians will remain present at the hospital 24X7. Both hospitals will be reimbursed as per government rates. Government authorities will ensure proper electricity and water supply to these hospitals, and soon appoint nodal officers.
“As per the legal provisions, these two hospitals will now treat Covid-19 patients. District civil surgeon will send or shift patients from GMCH,” said resident deputy collector Sanjay Khadse.
GMCH Akola has already been converted into a dedicated Covid hospital but beds here are falling short for ever-increasing Covid-19 patients in Akola. GMCH Covid Hospital has 150 beds, 30 ICU beds, 12 ventilator-beds and a dedicated Covid Operation Theatre.
On Tuesday, Akola recorded 43 new cases from 14 localities. A 71-yr-old man, admitted in the isolation ward from May 26, died during treatment. This was the 40th death in Akola and 83rd in Vidarbha region.
Nagpur recorded 45 new cases, most of them from Naik Talao — the new hot spot in city. Five new positive cases were reported from Wardha, all close contacts of earlier positive patients.
In Washim, two close contacts of a woman positive patient admitted in the isolation ward tested positive, while in Yavatmal, another close contact of a positive patient from Mahagon tested positive. Amravati also recorded 1 new case — taking the total number of Vidarbha Covid-19 cases to 2,417.
Recoveries also continued in Vidarbha. In a welcome change, Amravati saw 14 patients being discharged as against a solitary new case. Nagpur discharged 28 patients — 17 from GMCH and 11 from IGGMCH. Eight from Buldhana recovered from Covid-19, taking total active cases in district to 25. While one new case was reported in Yavatmal, one person was discharged too. Gondia and Bhandara reported no new patients but discharged one patient each. With this, Gondia has only one active case out of 69 total cases.
Among the 14 discharged from Amravati, a two-year-old baby boy from Frazerpura locality was the youngest. With this, the number of discharged persons has crossed the 200-mark and settled at 205 at the end of the day. The only positive patient of the day came from Vilas Nagar locality, where a 52-year-old woman tested positive. This has taken Amravati’s Covid count to 285. As of Tuesday, there are only 63 active cases including four referred to Nagpur. The district has recorded 17 deaths to date.
No Covid-19 patient was found in Chandrapur on June 9, for the second consecutive day. Total still stands at 39, out of which 17 are active. All active patients are stable.
A close contact of a patient from Mahagon tested positive on June 9 in Yavatmal. The hospital has received 86 reports, of which one tested positive and he has been shifted to the GMC. Also, 113 swab samples have been referred to the lab and reports are awaited, said dean Dr Ramesh Singh.
Three more positive were registered on Tuesday in Wardha. These three patients are close contacts of patients at Vardhmaneri and Sindhi (Railway). The 59-year-old man’s contact in Vardhmaneri, his 45-year-old wife and 21-year-old daughter have reported Covid-19 positive. Also, a 59-year-old male resident of Ram Nagar, who was working with Covid positive railway employee at Sindhi (Railway), was found to be infected with coronavirus.