As the number of COVID-19 cases in Telangana continues to rise, the state government has asked private hospitals with COVID-19 treatment facilities to admit only those patients with "moderate and severe symptoms".
A notification in this regard was issued by the state’s Director of Public Health Dr G Srinivasa Rao on May 4. The notification said that the decision was made after taking the rise in COVID-19 cases in the state into cognisance. And that, "mild and asymptomatic cases having oxygen saturation at room air of more than 94% are recommended for home/ institutional isolation in covid care centers."
The Director of Public Health also directed private hospitals to admit only those patients with moderate/severe symptoms and said the hospitals should not wait or ask for COVID-19 test results. The Director of Public Health further asked the private hospitals to keep a display board at the entrance of the hospitals giving updated details regarding the availability of regular beds, oxygen beds, ICU beds (Ventilator/CPAP) on a real-time basis.
As per the media bulletin released on May 4 by the Director of Public Health and Family Welfare, the state saw 6,876 new cases and reported a total of 79,520 active cases with 59 fatalities.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar held a review with senior IAS officers and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Zonal Commissioners and superintendents of hospitals within the GHMC limits on COVID-19 crisis management.
Somesh Kumar asked the officials to increase COVID-19 beds in Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) Sarojini Devi Hospital,TIMS and King Koti hospitals beside other area hospitals. He also directed the authorities to conduct a cleanliness drive in all the Government Hospitals, and Urban Primary Health Centers to maintain hygienic conditions.
After Eatala Rajender was fired from his position as the state’s Health Minister, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) appointed officials in the CM office, who along with the Chief Secretary, would make reports related to COVID-19 developments to him. In April, CM KCR tested positive for COVID-19 and was treated by a team of doctors at his farmhouse in Erravalli.
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