MARGAO
This should hopefully come as an eye opener that Covid admissions have crossed the 100-patient mark in the South Goa district hospital “ the first time during the second Covid wave in the State.
Around 100-odd patients are presently admitted in the South Goa district hospital in the last two days, around 106 patients to be precise on Saturday.
The South Goa district hospital presently has a 150 patient intake capacity, even though the hospital can be further upgraded to 250-bedded facility without much difficulty.
Hospital officials pointed out that the hospital has received an SOS from the government to gear up for the upgradation of the hospital to meet any eventuality in the event of a further spike in Covid cases. Though the South Goa district hospital has a capacity to house 500 patients, the government had commissioned only a part of the hospital, with 250-bedded capacity. “Since the government has issued an alert to be ready to meet any situation, we will have to go for enhancement of the beds from 150 to 250 in the coming days,” informed an official.
To a question, the official pointed out that the South Goa district had in the past accommodated more than 100 patients at one time at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The official, however, hastened to add that this is for the first time that the hospital is playing host to 100-plus patients in the last two days.
The South Goa district hospital is also leading the pack in conducting Covid tests. In fact, an official pointed out that the hospital, which plays host to a well-equipped laboratory, conducts around 250-300 tests a day on an average. “Our laboratory is open 24x7 and hence people come to the district hospital for the Covid tests,” the official said.
