Hospitals to reopen facilities for non-COVID patients

MCH likely to restart other departments by June 25

Hospitals in Ernakulam district, both in government and private sectors, will gradually attempt to open up to more non-COVID patients in the next few weeks. In the past three weeks, the number of hospitalised COVID patients fell from 3,081 on May 23 to 1,581 on June 14. During the same time frame, the number of ICU admissions fell from 542 to 348. The Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), which had suspended all non-COVID services at the end of April, is likely to restart non-COVID departments by June 25, according to a release issued by the district administration last week. Since non-COVID treatment facilities are limited in the district, the MCH will be opened up on priority when cases fall further, said Dr. Mathews Numpeli, district programme manager, National Health Mission. It is likely to begin with outpatient departments first, and services will gradually be extended. Some ICU beds will be retained at the hospital for COVID patients.