Some time back, the Covid care centres in Chennai were full of patients as the Coronavirus cases rose steeply. Now, these centres are empty with few patients only.
Information is that the test positivity rate or TPR has come down to less than 1% in Chennai and daily fresh cases have come down to less than 250 now in Chennai. On Friday, less than 2% of beds were occupied at the Covid care centres in Chennai.
Less than 350 Covid-19 patients get admitted to the Covid care centres and this was according to an official belonging to GCC. He explained that in Chennai city there are more than 17000 beds available in the Covid care centres. It is known that educational institutions, unoccupied TNSCB tenements, Trade Centre at Nandambakkam etc have been converted as care centres to treat asymptomatic cases and those with mild symptoms.
It must not be forgotten that in the first Coronavirus infection wave in 2020, GCC had created 22000 beds at Covid care centres but none of them were oxygen supported beds. Several beds have been provided with oxygen support now in the second wave as many needed oxygen support in April and in May. As another wave is anticipated, GCC has instructed not to let the guard down.
The GCC official later spoke about how the civic body has been keeping the private buildings where beds have been created. He hinted that it was not possible to keep the facilities for a longer period of time and the buildings would be handed over to the owners soon It is learnt that GCC would continue to maintain Covid care centre at KP Park TNSCB tenements with more than 4000 beds.
Point is that as on Friday there are just 29321 active cases and just 10percent are present in the Covid care centres.