Kottayam sets a model in COVID care

High number of oxygen beds, decentralised care helped reduce mortality

As the second wave of COVID-19 that hit the region gradually begins to subside, Kottayam appears to have set a model in pandemic prevention by providing critical care to the maximum number of patients while maintaining one of the lowest mortality rates in the State. According to officials, the district has the highest number of oxygen beds in the COVID first-line (FLTC) and second-line treatment centres (SLTC) in the State, which has helped it to keep the mortality rate at 0.19%, second only to Idukki. Out of the total 2,421 oxygen beds in all SLTCs in the State, Kottayam accounts for 24.4% with 591 beds while it has 681 beds across the FLTCs, which is 23.64% of the total beds in all FLTCs in the State.