Hospitals in India have plenty of beds at COVID Hospital for children, Reuters said

Author: Krishna N. Das

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian states have booked more than double the beds in COVID-19 hospital for children recommended by federal experts for fear of being unprepared, government figures show.

despite what doctors say, many young people have not yet needed critical care.

The Ministry of Health also said that only 5% and 10% of all infected people in India on Monday applied for hospitalization https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-covid-19-cases-multiply-vulnerable-groups-dated-vaccine -boosters-2022-01-10, compared to 20% and 23% in the last big wave. Authorities say most people have shown no symptoms or are mild and have recovered quickly at home.

India reported 179,723 new cases on Monday, bringing the total to 35.7 million, the largest in the world after the United States. Deaths rose 146 to 483,936, just behind the U.S.-Brazil count.

The data showed that India has more than 24,000 pediatric ICU beds, less than the 10,000-bed recommendation of a federal working group. There are also non-ICU beds for 64,796 children, much larger than the suggested 27,682 beds.

Since the last big wave of infection in India started in April, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JLNMCH) in the eastern state of Tomorrow has saved 16 ICU beds for children affected by COVID-19.

“None of the beds have been occupied since the beginning, but we have booked them if the third wave affects the children,” Raj Kamal Choudhary, a hospital associate professor with a total of about 800 beds, told Reuters.

“States are scared and prepared because children under the age of 15 have not been vaccinated. I accept the state’s decision to have more beds ready than recommended.”

There is no centralized public data on COVID-19 in India and how many children have needed hospital care, but countries like the United States https://www.reuters.com/world/us/covid-19-hospitalization-surge -among-us- children-spurs-new-omicron-concerns-2021-12-30 and UK hospitalization of children has risen due to the rapidly expanding Omicron variant.

India has a total of about 139,000 COVID-19 ICU beds, compared to the recommended 195,390. Oxygen beds, which fell short in the second wave last year, numbered nearly 495,000, still less than the 519,000 suggested by experts.

Basic insulation beds, however, number many in the millions.