Bengaluru breaches 2nd wave peak with 30,540 fresh cases
The Hindu
Hospitalisation is only 1.3% of caseload and less than 0.5% are critical
Bengaluru reported 30,540 cases on Thursday, breaching the previous all-time high of 26,756 daily fresh cases on April 30, 2021, at the peak of the second wave. This is also a big jump from 24,135 cases reported in the city on Wednesday.
Experts and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike estimate that the peak is still far away. But Chief Civic Commissioner Gaurav Gupta said the condition in the city during the two peaks is not comparable. While there was a mad scramble for beds, oxygen, medicines and long lines at the city’s crematoriums at the peak of the second wave, even hospitalisation is very low in the city as of Thursday. While the city recorded 93 deaths on April 30, 2021, at the peak of the second wave, the city reported eight deaths on Thursday.
A BBMP estimate puts hospitalisation at 1.3% of the caseload and that less than 0.5% are on critical beds, as of Wednesday. On an average, the city is seeing around 200 to 250 hospitalisations, Mr. Gupta said. As per the COVID-19 Bed Status portal of BBMP, of the 6,963 government quota beds available in the city only 659 beds were occupied and 6,304 beds vacant. Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) said nearly 600 beds were occupied in their share of beds in private hospitals in the city presently.