Omicron threat: Private hospitals in Kolkata defer Covid bed squeeze plan – Times of India

KOLKATA: Several private hospitals that had been contemplating scaling down the number of its Covid beds this week, have kept the plan on hold in view of Omicron — the South African strain classified as a variant of concern by WHO. Most have now decided to wait for a fortnight and keep a close watch on the number of admissions before squeezing Covid units.
AMRI Hospitals, that had decided to review the Covid bed demand across its three units and squeeze the number of beds, has now decided to wait till mid-December. The hospital now has 50 Covid beds which was to be cut down to 40. “Since Omicron is on the prowl and it is believed to be a highly transmissible strain, we have decided against reducing Covid beds now. A close watch is being kept on the number of admissions which hasn’t gone up yet,” said AMRI CEO Rupak Barua.

AMRI has around 35 Covid patients and the admission number has been varying between two and five a day for several weeks now. It has more than 600 non-Covid patients across its three units.

Medica Superspecialty Hospital, which slashed its Covd beds to 36 in October, had been planning to reduce it further after a steep fall in number of admissions since early-November. The hospital has now decided to continue with its existing Covid beds. “We have more than 300 non-Covid patients now and have a long waiting list of non-Covid patients. But with a new strain emerging, we are not only putting the squeeze on hold but also keeping provisions ready for a quick expansion of the Covid ward,” said chairperson Alok Roy.
CMRI Hospital is seeking regular updates on Omicron from its clinical team. Even though the number of Covid patients has dipped below 20 at the hospital, there will be no immediate reduction in the number of beds. “We are keeping a close watch on the situation due to the Omicron threat,” said Simmardeep Gill, CEO of CK Birla Hospitals.
RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS) has 45 Covid beds with an occupancy of around 22 which hasn’t changed for the last seven weeks. “But we will continue with the same capacity for some more time and monitor the situation closely due to the recent developments before we take any call to reduce beds,” said RTIICS zonal head R Venkatesh.
Belle Vue Clinic has 40 Covid patients now. “With Omicron emerging, we have decided not to squeeze the Covid unit and are ready to expand it at a short notice,” said CEO P Tondon.
Peerless Hospital will be sticking to its exiting 42 beds for Covid despite a long waiting list of non-Covid patients whose number has crossed 330.