3,165 fresh cases take tally to 30,104; death toll at 32

Coimbatore: The district recorded 3,165 fresh Covid-19 cases on Saturday, taking the total number of cases to 1,34,912. Despite 2,377 people getting discharged on the day, again highest in a day, the number of active cases crossed the grim figure of 30,000 to touch 30,104.
The total number of people cured rose to 1,03,809, keeping the recovery rate at 76.9%.
Thirty-two people died due to the virus, which is the highest number of deaths declared in a single day, taking the toll to 999. Of the 32 people declared dead, four were in the 40s, five in the 50s and nine in the 60s.
As per the media bulletin, there are 401 ordinary beds, 22 free oxygen beds and one ICU bed. However, finding a bed for even non-oxygen requiring patients turned out to be an uphill task on Saturday. Some patients waited at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for seven hours for a bed, only to be refused. With more beds being added in Covid care centres, there are 539 vacant beds.
To handle the growing number of calls to 1077, the district administration has set up two more triage units including one at corporation community centre at Ramanathapuram and St Francis School near CMCH.
While the administration said there were 129 oxygen beds vacant at CMCH, the needy could not find them.
There are 221 oxygen beds and 29 ventilator beds in private hospitals. Officials said there were 13,067 beds in total. The number of people in home isolation also grew to 17,900.
The district administration will on Sunday administer 400 doses of Covishield for people aged above 45, who need their second shot. They have also distributed 9,464 vaccines to 13 private firms that are still functioning. This includes LMW plants at Kaniyur and Periyanaickenpalayam, Aquapump Industries at Thudiyalur, Emerald Jewellery, NPT College in Pollachi, Roots Industries at Kinathukidavu and Kovilapalayam. This is based on the chief minister’s instructions to vaccinate people working in industries. People including cab drivers, food delivery boys, e-commerce staff, petrol bunk employees, bus drivers, pharmacy workers and restaurant employees between 18 to 44 will get priority in the vaccination drive.