COVID Death: Analysis makes startling revelations

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: In its analysis, the State Health Department has found that – this time COVID death toll is more among young and middle-aged people without comorbidities, and that the patients collapse too fast, leaving little time for treatment.

In the past seven days, as many as 271 people died of COVID-19 in the State. The number of positive cases detected during the week is 30,190. Even though the death rate is less than that in the rest of India, the sudden upsurge in the toll has worried the State Health Department.

What's baffling is that even now a section of people in the State is not following COVID-appropriate behaviour. Even now, markets in the State gaggle with people. COVID protocol goes for a toss even in containment zones, let alone other areas. Laxity is glaringly visible in the sanitization of city buses.

Talking to The Sentinel on the enormity of the problem, DME (Director of Medical Education) Dr Anoop Barman said, "We did apprehend that around 10,000 COVID positive cases daily would be detected in the State at the end of May. The rise in positive cases would be in sync with the rise in the death toll. Over 5,000 positive cases were detected in the State on Friday. We are surely inching towards the predicted figure of around 10,000 positive cases per day."

On the sudden upsurge in the death toll in the State, Dr Barman said, "Home isolation guidelines are not properly followed. Most of the patients go to hospitals at the last stage and collapse within 24 hours, leaving little time for treatment. Time and again, we've appealed to those in home isolation to observe their oxygen level and report doctors well ahead of time. However, in most cases, our appeal falls on their deaf ear.

"We've found that most of the deaths are among young and middle-aged ones, that too, without comorbidities. The patients collapse within three or four days. Oxygen level falls very low all of a sudden that it's not possible to revive. Taking that in mind, we appeal to all to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour. People staying in home isolation should adhere to guidelines."

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