More patients in ICUs, but coronavirus not to blame

125 COVID cases in Gandhi Hospital ICU due to various ailments

There is a silver lining to the gradual increase in the number of COVID patients landing up in hospital intensive care units (ICUs). Of the 125 COVID patients in Gandhi Hospital ICU, none were admitted because of severity of symptoms.

Hospital superintendent M. Raja Rao, who went through case sheets of the 125 patients, said they are suffering from other health ailments.

Prior to detection of the infection and admission at the government hospital, the patients were admitted to ICU of other healthcare facilities, including corporate hospitals, with other serious ailments related to heart, brain, liver, etc. They were on oxygen or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) support. “The patients were shifted from other hospital ICUs to our ICUs after testing positive there. None of the 125 patients, however, have severe COVID,” said Dr Raja Rao.