As COVID cases rise, Kerala gears up to treat 50K patients at a time

Kerala has me arrangements to treat around 50,000 COVID-19 patients at a time, doubling first line treatment centres to 56 as it battles third wave of infections that has pushed active cases to over 7,000 in last over two months.

State Health Minister K K Shailaja said experts have forecast a surge in number of cases next month but sounded confident that government can man any such a situation with measures being taken by it.

After successfully containing spre of infections since it reported country's first COVID-19 case in January, sourn state has been witnessing a sharp increase in fresh infections since May with thousands of people returning from overseas and or parts of country.

Though caselo is still lower compared to neighbouring states of Tamil Nu and Karnataka, state is gearing up for any contingency and has ramped up COVID care infrastructure by ding more first line treatment centres (FLTCs) besides deciding to recruit temporary staff for m so that it can treat up to 50,000 patients at a time.

"We alrey have two COVID hospitals in each district.

n as number increased, we opened one FLTC for each COVID hospital. Thus we alrey have 28 FLTCs. w we have given direction to increase number to 56. That is one COVID hospital will have two FLTCs," Shailaja told P T I.

She also said government h alrey given directions to open in each of 941 panchayats at least one FLTC where a special medical team would take care of asymptomatic and less complicated patients.

Some FLTCs have up to 500 beds and at least 2,000 people can be accommodated in each of 14 districts in state.

While country's three first COVID-19 patients in state recovered, effective steps, including triple lockdown in areas such as Kasaragod, which witnessed high number of cases early, brought down active cases to just 16 on May 8, that marked end of second spell of COVID-19.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan h n declared that coronavirus curve has been flattened, though he h cautioned a third wave cant be ruled out when lockdown rms are eased and people allowed to return to state.

As predicted by him, state has been witnessing a stey spike in new cases with people stranded due to lockdown in various parts of globe, especially Gulf nations, and or states returning home.

Vijayan last week mitted community transmission has occurred in two coastal regions in Thiruvananthapuram -- Poonthura and Pulvilla declared as clusters with high cases.

According to officials, clusters are formed when re is an "unexpected surge in COVID-19 cases" at a particular area and it occurred just before community transmission.

Kerala reported 821 fresh cases on Sunday, highest single day count so far. While tally has risen to 12,480, active cases stood at 7,063. death toll is 42.

According to officials, at least 60 per cent of patients are asymptomatic in state, making things more difficult for health department.

Explaining functioning of FLTCs, Shailaja said idea was to decongest medical college hospitals where seriously ill patients would be treated.

"It can be schools, hostels or any or large building. government has alrey released funds for purchase of necessary furniture and equipment at se centres. All districts have been given Rs 10 crore each. panchayats have been given Rs 50,000 as an vance fund to set up FLTCs," Minister said.

When asked about reports on a surge in number of cases in coming months, Minister said a particular number cant be predicted at any time.