Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Notwithstanding the preparations for the swearing-in ceremony of the federal government on May 20, the state is more likely to prolong the lockdown past May 16 because the variety of Covid sufferers looking for therapy is steadily rising.Though CM Pinarayi Vijayan mentioned a choice on extension can be taken after assessing the scenario by the weekend, it’s learnt that the executive equipment is gearing up for continued restrictions.
On Wednesday, 5 days after the lockdown was enforced, the state reported its highest each day Covid case rely (43,529) and deaths (95). The common take a look at positivity charge in seven days has reached 27.88 per cent. Indications are that multiple particular person out of 4 examined have turned constructive. Experts are in favour of constant the lockdown as they imagine the scenario on the bottom has not improved a lot to have a rethink.
“Lockdown is not the best option to deal with a pandemic. But that is the only option available to the government now,” mentioned Dr V Ramankutty, a well being economist, epidemiologist and emeritus professor on the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology.
The rise within the variety of sufferers beneath therapy and the demise charge are thought-about main standards for deciding the lockdown, in response to specialists. The sluggish tempo of vaccination has additionally been a handicap in containing the virus unfold. The state has over 4.3 lakh Covid sufferers with solely 17.5percentof the inhabitants having acquired a minimum of one dose of vaccination.
Hospitals should arrange Covid OP, extra O2 beds
“The effect of the lockdown will be known only after a week. But we have already reached a stage of congestion in hospitals. If we create conditions for an increase in cases, we will become helpless. So we don’t have many options left other than reducing the spread by extending the lockdown for a week,” mentioned Dr Gopikumar P, state secretary of the Indian Medical Association.
He identified that different states which had introduced lockdown have prolonged it past a month.The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) wished the districts reporting a excessive variety of infections (TPR of over 10 per cent) to stay shut for an additional six to eight weeks to regulate the unfold. However, the Chief Minister mentioned such ideas have been relevant solely on the nationwide degree and the state was not consulted in that regard.
“Though the situation continues to be very serious, the state has to assess the situation before making a decision on lockdown. There could be restrictions in inter-district travel, but the districts that have shown improvement could get more relaxation,” mentioned Dr Okay P Aravindan, a pathologist and member of the professional panel on Covid-19. The well being division, anticipating a surge within the variety of sufferers with extreme an infection, has directed all hospitals to deal with Covid sufferers until May 31. Hospitals have to arrange for the problem by organising extra oxygen beds and Covid outpatient companies. The sectoral magistrates, who implement the lockdown restrictions on the bottom, have been given obligation extension past May 20.
