In a positive development, Karnal and its nearby districts are reporting a nearly 30% decline in the demand for liquid medical oxygen (LMO), indicating a fall in the number of critical Covid patients.
As per officials, there was an unprecedented spike in the demand for medical oxygen during the peak of the second wave in the beginning of May; but now, the number of patients requiring oxygen support has been consistently dipping.
Karnal deputy commissioner (DC) Nishant Kumar Yadav said, “Yes, we are seeing a fall in the demand for medical oxygen as the number of critical patients is coming down. As of now, the per day consumption of LMO in Karnal district is 12 MT as compared to 16 MT in the first week of May.”
A senior official of the district administration, who is monitoring the distribution of oxygen cylinders, said the demand of LMO for home isolated patients also dipped from 100 cylinders a day to 50. He said that during the peak of the second wave, demand for home delivery of LMO used to go up to 683.
The officials said there was an unprecedented rush for medical oxygen in the last week of April and first week of May as out of 186 ICU beds in government and private hospitals in the district, 181 were occupied and of 443 beds with oxygen support, 406 were taken. But now, out of 479 beds with oxygen support, 244 are unoccupied. Also, 90 out of the total 267 ICU beds in different private and government hospitals in the district are vacant.
{{/usCountry}}The officials said there was an unprecedented rush for medical oxygen in the last week of April and first week of May as out of 186 ICU beds in government and private hospitals in the district, 181 were occupied and of 443 beds with oxygen support, 406 were taken. But now, out of 479 beds with oxygen support, 244 are unoccupied. Also, 90 out of the total 267 ICU beds in different private and government hospitals in the district are vacant.
{{/usCountry}}The demand for LMO has also declined in nearby districts. Kurukshetra DC Sharandeep Kaur Barar said the demand of medical oxygen in the district was around 10MT a day between April 28 and May 3 but now it has declined to 6MT a day. She said 237 cylinders have been delivered to patients for home use.
Similarly, officials from Panipat health department said the per-day requirement of LMO has come down to 50 cylinders from 440 cylinders during the peak season. So far, 1, 270 cylinders have been distributed to patients in the district.