Pune: The number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the city have crossed the 500 figure. The count now has reached to 504, which includes a two-month-old baby to senior citizens in the city. On a positive note, 7,250 patients have also recovered to date.
However, the infection mortality rate in the city is 4.5 per cent which is a cause of concern. In the last week, on average, eight persons have died due to COVID-19 every day. On Saturday (June 20) itself, 11 persons died and 384 new cases were reported.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is taking all possible measures to prevent community spread of the coronavirus. PMC has also focussed on persons with comorbidities. It has planned health facilities in such a way that the patients with comorbidities will have Intensive Care Units (ICU) beds and ventilators available immediately. PMC, along with private hospitals, have a sufficient number of beds and ventilators, said Rubal Agrawal, Additional Commissioner of PMC.
The city recorded its first death due to COVID-19 on March 30. Initially, around three to four persons died due to COVID-19 on an average daily. This number has now increased to seven to eight deaths daily. The infection mortality rate was 5.5 per cent in May and it has come down to 4.5 per cent in June. Nevertheless, this ratio is high as compared to the national average, and PMC is trying to reduce it.
Dr Sanjeev Vavare, Assistant Head of Health Department of PMC said, "Asymptomatic patients have been allowed to stay home for the quarantine period, but the number of critical patients is increasing. So, we are taking measures to increase the recovery rate immediately."
Measures taken by PMC to bring down the mortality rate:
* Ambulance availability in time
* Sufficient number of ambulances in service
* Collection of information from private labs and doctors
* ICU bed and ventilator availability
* Increasing swab collection centres in each ward
Only 4000 active cases
With new 384 cases reported on Saturday, the total number of patients in the city so far has reached 11146. Out of these, 7263 patients have recovered and only about 4000 cases are 'active'. Till date, 88 thousand citizens have been tested for COVID-19 in Pune city.
