Pune: As the COVID-19 positive cases surge in Pune there has been a rise in the number of patients on oxygen support and critical patients. On April 10, as many as 4,746 COVIDU-19 positive patients were admitted to various city hospitals who need oxygen support but now within nine days, the number has gone up to 5,870. In span of nine days, patients requiring oxygen support has gone pass 1,124.

The city is witnessing 5,000 new cases for past few days. Of these cases, many patients have been already suffering from respiratory problems. Generally, an individual has 95-100 per cent oxygen level but few who are transmitted by the virus require medical oxygen as their level from the blood goes down. The reason doctors say silent hypoxia, in this case, is the symptoms to kick in late which is causing patients to get admitted in the hospital at the last minute when they require oxygen.

Due to in an increase in number of people who require oxygen, it is directly impacting on the supply of the oxygen by the hospitals. Along with the number of people who need oxygen the number of critical patients has also risen substantially.

The number of COVID-19 positive patients who require oxygen treatment has gone up from 308 as of February 18 to 5,870 as of April 19 while 1,250 currently are in critical condition, according to the officials from the health department of PMC (Pune Municipal Corporation).

Till last week, the district needed 300 to 350 metric tonnes of medical oxygen however, the demand for the same is 375 metric tonnes currently, according to health officials. Of the total supply, 70 per cent of medical oxygen is supplied to Pune city.

Meanwhile, Pune city on Sunday reported 6,434 new COVID-19 cases taking the progressive count to 3,67,237. While city witnessed 53 deaths taking the death tally to 6,109. On the recovery front, 4,712 patients were recovered on Sunday which took the total of recovered patients in the city to 3,04,492.