New Delhi: Zero deaths were reported in home isolation of novel coronavirus patients in Delhi in the first week of July. At the same time, the total number of daily deaths in the national capital is also in decline. These are the findings of the Delhi government`s recent study of Covid-19 management. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had directed the Delhi government`s Health Department to study all coronavirus-related deaths in last fortnight to understand what steps could be taken to further reduce casualties. In turn, the Health Department presented its findings to the CM on July 10.

As per the findings, a total of 691 patients succumbed to Covid-19 in Delhi between June 24 and July 8. This means that Delhi witnessed an average of 46 COVID-related deaths during these two weeks. Each of these deaths was studied and analysed by the Health Department and its findings furnished in the report. The report also found that with the launch of India`s first Plasma bank, more serious Covid-19 patients are benefitting from Plasma therapy in Delhi which could further bring down the mortality rate.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a review meeting on Friday to discuss measures to reduce mortality even further. The CM has asked for a ratio of coronavirus deaths to the total number of patients discharged from each hospital. Hospitals with low ration would signify better management. This will allow the Health Department to study the practices of such hospitals and make improvements.

Here are the findings in the report:

From 101 deaths each day in mid-June, the number has come down to 46 in the last two weeks. Delhi`s overall death rate has come down to 3.02 per cent from 3.64 per cent in June. However, the daily average has come down to roughly 2.5 per cent with the average daily number of deaths being less than 50 and the daily number of fresh cases being around 2,000 in the said period. Only 7 out of 691 deaths recorded in Delhi between June 24 and June 30 happened in home isolation. Not even a single death has been reported in home isolation in July until now. The report attributes this to the government`s decision to distribute oximeters to all patients under home isolation.

As per Central Government`s Paul Committee, 45 per cent of deaths in India occur during the first 48 hours. In Delhi, this has come down to only 15 per cent. Out of 691 deaths, 505 patients were in serious condition, when admitted to hospitals. As many as 291 of these patients were already in a hospital when they tested positive and were admitted timely. Delay was reported in hospital admission of 28 patients in total. The report goes on to cite recent measures by the Delhi and central government to improve upon the treatment cycle of Covid-19 patients. These measures include increased testing, emphasis on home isolation of asymptomatic and mild symptom patients, aiding patients in home isolation with daily tele-counselling and provision of oxymeters, faster ambulance response time (55 minutes earlier to 30.5 minutes now) and deployment of more emergency vehicles.

Expedited hospital admission process, increased ICU capacity (1100 out of 2000 ICU beds are occupied), and easy availability of beds (4500 out of 15,000 COVID hospital beds are occupied) also found mention in the report as measures that have contributed to the improvement of the situation.

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