India City COVID updates

India COVID-19 Hospitals links (PDF)

22 April Update

Cities: Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi

COVID Situation in Chennai

As of 21 April 2021, Chennai has reported over 294,000 cases, of which 29,256 are active cases. It is the most affected district in Tamil Nadu state reporting about 3,000 new cases daily. Health officials were quoted in media reporting that almost half of the active cases in the city require hospitalization. The trend has been increasing since the beginning of end of February. The UK variant (B.1.1.7) and the South African variant (B.1.351) have been detected in the state.

Public health measures:

All control rooms located in the containment zones in the city have resumed operation. Authorities have announced fines on people who violate COVID-19 appropriate rules. Religious leaders have been asked to co-operate and religious gatherings have been banned.

Healthcare status:

Government and corporate hospitals reported having adequate stock of oxygen, however private hospitals especially small and medium facilities are experiencing shortage. As per data from health officials, about 35 percent of the Chennai’s tertiary hospitals are vacant. Healthcare centres are being set up and fever camps are run to manage patients to reduce the burden on tertiary hospitals. They are equipped with oxygen and ambulances. The state government has set up helplines for assistance 044-29510400, 044-29510500. The numbers specifically for Chennai are 044-1077 044-25243454

Testing capacities:

Testing is done at fever clinics, static testing centres, private healthcare set-ups as well as Greater Chennai Corporation. RT-PCR testing is being done free of cost and positive results are being delivered in 24 hours and negative in 36 hours via text message. So far the lab facilities appear to be functioning adequately.

COVID situation in Mumbai

As of 20 April, Mumbai has reported 5,94,059 cases of which 82,671 are active cases. It is the most affected region in Maharashtra state currently reporting between 6000-8000 cases daily. Wards FS, RN, HW, PN, L, S are reporting more cases than others. A strict lockdown is scheduled to start from the evening of 22 April.

Official War Room helpline: Helpline 1916

The increase in activity was seen from early March onwards. A slight decrease in daily new cases has been noticed however it is early to identify as a downward trend. According to a recent data reported in media, almost 50% of all COVID-19 positive samples in Maharashtra state appeared to be due to Indian variant of SARS-CoV-2 called B.1.617.

Healthcare status:

The healthcare infrastructure is stretched with severe shortage of beds including those for ICU are being reported. Jumbo COVID Centres are being planned to meet the requirements hopefully increasing capacity by more than 6,000 beds, including 800 ICU beds. Oxygen and Remdesivir shortages have also been reported.

Testing capacities: The waiting time for an RT-PCR report has increased to 36 hours or more. Mumbai’s current RT-PCR testing capacity of 45,000 samples per day is overwhelmed.

COVID situation in Delhi

As of 20 April, 905,541 cases have been reported in Delhi, of which 85,575 are active cases. Delhi is currently the worst affected city surpassing Mumbai. It is reporting about 22,000 to 25,000 cases daily new cases. Over 530 containment zones are active currently. The novel variant with double mutation E484Q and L452R has been found in Delhi. The UK variant (B.1.1.7) and the South African variant (B.1.351) have also been detected in the state. Partial lockdown has been announced with restricted functioning of businesses.

Healthcare Status:

Delhi is facing “an oxygen crisis”. One of the factors is considered to be disruption to supply of oxygen from other states. Many hospitals are reporting shortage and some have stopped admissions due to lack of oxygen supply. Among other shortages, antiviral Remdesivir and hospital beds including ICU beds are reported to be running short. A shortage of Personal Protective Equipment for healthcare staff has also been reported. Banquet halls and hotels are being converted to makeshift facilities. 800 ICU beds are expected to be added soon.

Testing capacities:

Testing labs are at capacity and there is delay of 3-4 days in getting test results. Media sources reported that a majority of labs have stopped collecting samples for RT-PCR or carrying out antigen tests in wake of increased requests. Some labs have been reported to close down for 3-4 days due to shortage in manpower and increased number of samples.