Mumbai: Six-fold rise in number of critical and symptomatic COVID-19 patients in last 25 days

Mumbai: There has been a six-fold rise in the number of critical and symptomatic Covid patients in the city in the last 25 days. According to the dashboard, until June 1, there were three critical patients admitted to Covid hospitals, and this number had increased to 18 by June 25. Similarly, the number of symptomatic Covid patients has now increased to 3,250, almost six times the number as on June 1 - 574. Health officials are saying that currently, seasonal and Covid flu are going hand-in-hand, causing people to come down with symptoms ranging from mild to moderate and the numbers of those afflicted are increasing. However, patients are recovering in three to four days, except for those with comorbidities.

Senior doctors from the jumbo covid centres have attributed this surge to the negligence of Covid-19 appropriate behaviours like masking and social distancing. Most patients are being diagnosed with Covid-19 while undergoing treatment for other ailments. “Unlike the second wave, in recent patients, there is limited involvement of the lungs. Most patients requiring ICU admission are those who are immunocompromised, aged and have comorbidities,” he said.

Dr Lancelot Pinto, consultant pulmonologist and epidemiologist, P D Hinduja Hospital, said waning immunity before and after infection and vaccination, increased social interaction/ overcrowding, increased travel and reduced precautions (masking, sanitizing) have all possibly contributed to the surge that we are presently experiencing. “Fortunately, it does appear that despite increasing numbers, the proportion of those severely infected is low, and we are likely to experience a surge similar to what we witnessed in January,” he said.

Meanwhile, health officials are anticipating a further surge in cases, indicating that a fourth wave of the pandemic could well be in play in the state.

“The most common symptoms we are witnessing are severe cough, bodyache and headache, with diarrhoea. The symptoms usually subside within 48 hours and that is why the number of admissions is sharply less, compared to the infection rate,” said a doctor.

Published on: Saturday, June 25, 2022, 11:28 PM IST