Covid: 5-10 percent cases need hospitalisation this time-Govt

The Centre has warned that the Covid situation is "dynamic and evolving and the need of hospital care may change rapidly." In the present serge, India is witnessing a hospitalisation rate of 5-10 per cent  so far. Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Monday wrote to states and Union territories regarding the latest resurgence in coronavirus cases that he said appeared to be driven by the ‘variant of concern’ (VoC) Omicron and the continued presence of the other strain Delta. All states and union territories have been asked to keep a daily watch on oxygen beds, ICU beds, and ventilator support. The Covid Care centres have to be upgraded to oxygen-supported beds when required, the government has said, also underscoring on engaging junior doctors, nursing, and MBBS students to ensure adequate healthcare staff. 

It also asked the state and UT authorities to conserve healthcare workers by working out at staggered mode of work as both infrastructure and human resources have their limiations. Meanwhile, Union Health Ministry has issued revised advisory for managing Health Care Workers (HCWs) working in COVID and Non-COVID areas of the Health Care Facilities. In the guidelines, the Ministry said that all health facilities shall activate its Hospital Infection Control Committee (HICC).The HICC in the health facility is responsible for implementing the Infection Prevention and Control, IPC  activities, and organizing regular training on IPC for HCWs. It said, a Nodal Officer shall be identified by each health facility to address all matters related to Healthcare-Associated Infections.