A frantic search for pulse oximeters in Kerala, their price shoots up too
The Hindu
There seems to be an absolute shortage of pulse oximeter, the tiny equipment used to determine oxygen level in the blood, in Kerala, also leading to a steep rise in its prices across districts.Falling
There seems to be an absolute shortage of pulse oximeter, the tiny equipment used to determine oxygen level in the blood, in Kerala, also leading to a steep rise in its prices across districts. Falling of oxygen levels in blood is a major reason for death of COVID-19 patients. Those tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 along with suspected patients have been advised to use the meter to measure the oxygen levels regularly and seek medical help if their condition worsens. Rajesh Pillai, State functionary, All Kerala Scientific and Surgical Dealers’ Association, said that the wholesale dealers had exhausted their existing stock and fresh ones were yet to arrive. “We purchase pulse oximeters mainly from New Delhi and Mumbai. By April second week, there was a surge in COVID-19 cases in those places, resulting in a high demand of the meters there for personal use. So the arrival from there stopped gradually,” he said.Leaders and legislators hailing from Ballari, which is part of the Kalyana Karnataka region, seem to be a source of much political upheaval in Karnataka, going by recent history. This has been the case since the time illegal mining hit national and international headlines in the 2000s and the place gained reputation as “Republic of Ballari”.
The former BJP MLA of Udupi K. Raghupathi Bhat claimed on Saturday that he contesting the Legislative Council elections from South West Graduates’ Constituency as rebel candidate made the saffron party field its party leader C. T. Ravi in the biennial elections to the Legislative Council from the Legislative Assembly.