THIRD WAVE THREAT: Assam medical colleges, dist hospitals to have paediatric ICUs
As the fear of a possible third wave of COVID-19 looms, the Assam government has decided to set up paediatric ICUs in medical colleges and district hospitals of the state.
Experts have reported that the third wave could impact children as they are yet to be vaccinated.
“As many as 320 paediatric ICUs will be set up in the medical colleges of the state, including 60 such ICUs in Guwahati Medical College and Hospital,” state health minister Keshab Mahanta informed reporters on Friday.
Besides, there would 40 such ICUs each at Silchar Medical College and Hospital and Assam Medical College and Hospital (Dibrugarh) and 30 each in Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Tezpur Medical College and Hospital, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital (Barpeta), Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital and Diphu Medical College and Hospital.
“Moreover, 30 such ICUs would be set up in Nagaon Civil Hospital and there would be 10 paediatric ICUs each in every district of the state,” the minister informed.
“All these will be set up within one month as a precautionary measure against a possible third wave,” he added.
Meanwhile, the state health department has, in a bid to reduce the mortality rates, decided that COVID patients with comorbid conditions across all ages groups would not be allowed home isolation from now onwards.
(Edited by Christopher Gatphoh)
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