16% of COVID-19 patients die within 12 hours of hospitalization in Assam: NHM

STAFF REPORTER GUWAHATI:

COVID-19 Patients Die in Assam: Even though a section of people in the State is oblivious of the enormity of the threat perception from COVID-19, the recent findings by NHM (National Health Mission) have proved how dreaded the virus is.

According to NHM sources, 16 per cent of the COVID-19 patients in the State died of the infection within 12 hours of their arrival in hospitals, 14 per cent within 24 hours, 26 per cent within two and three days, 29 per cent within a week and 15 per cent within eight days. What's significant is that people of all age groups are victims of the virus this time.

An ominous development in the State is that since the number of COVID-19 positive cases is rising at an alarming pace, the consumption of oxygen is also going up fast. The daily production of oxygen in the State now is 65.8 MT against daily consumption of 55 MT. And the production-consumption gap is becoming narrower every other day. This is indicative of an impending oxygen scarcity in the State shortly if the pandemic cannot be controlled now, NHM sources feel.

According to the sources, what's worrisome this time is that the recovery rate is lower than what it was in 2020. "The recovery rate last year was around 96 per cent. However, in striking contrast, the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients this year is 86 per cent as of now," an NHM source said.

The daily COVID-19 death toll also paints a similar picture. Eighteen people died of COVID-19 on April 27, and the toll rose to 85 on May 11, 2021.

"This is indeed a dreaded trend. We're increasing the number of COVID-19 beds, ICU (Intensive Care Unit) beds and oxygen production. However, the number of COVID-19 positive cases is outpacing us on all fronts. In some districts, the COVID positivity rate has crossed 10 per cent, and it is 5-10 per cent in some others. If the situation can't be checked now, it may go beyond control," the NHM source said.

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