With steady increase in the number of COVID-19 cases with every passing day in Chhattisgarh, the recovery rate of this infection has now dipped to 56.4% in State. Just few weeks ago, with 78.4% recovery rate, Chhattisgarh stood at third position after Kerala and Uttarakhand in recovery rate of COVID-19 patients.

 

Meanwhile, the recovery rate is still better than the neighbouring states except Telangana. But drop of 22% in the rate of recovery of coronavirus patients in just few weeks is a matter of concern for Chhattisgarh Health Department and State Government.

 

According to data of Chhattisgarh Health Department, total 6,370 cases of COVID-19 were reported at Chhattisgarh till July 23 out which 4,387 recovered and were discharged from the hospitals till July 23. But shockingly, in last one week, State saw over 1,850 cases of COVID-19 from various districts and in this period only 960 patients recovered and were discharged from hospital that accounted to 56%. But in first two weeks of July, 1,045 cases of COVID-19 were reported and 744 patients of this infection recovered. That accounted to 78%, third best amongst all states.

 

Mahasamund district has the highest discharge rate of 81.2% while capital Raipur has the lowest discharge rate of 43.1%. Other districts such as Bilaspur, Kanker, Rajnandgaon, Mungeli and Janjgir-Champa have discharge rate of less than 55%.

 

Dr S P Ware, Chief Medical and Health Officer of Mahasamund district said that district has a high recovery rate so far as a majority of the patients were asymptomatic.

 

“We have over 75 people from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Delhi who were tested positive and they all did not have symptoms. Our recovery rate was very high. Of late, the number of patients who have no symptoms is increasing and they are taking a longer period to recover,” Dr Ware pointed.

 

Sources in the Department of Health and Family Welfare informed that State Government is striving to ensure that the recovery rate of infection improves.

 

“There is a huge spike in the number of cases as well as patients need at least 12 to 13 days to recover and get discharged. The increase in number of cases reported over the last couple of days has reduced our recovery rate,” stated Dr Akhilesh Tripathi, Deputy Director of Chhattisgarh Health Department and In-charge of COVID-19 cases in State.

 

Dr Tripathi also pointed out that the both State Government and Department of Health and Family Welfare are committed to ensure that those with moderate as well as severe symptoms receive timely medical care.

 

In this regard, Niharika Barik Singh, Principal Secretary of Chhattisgarh Health Department said, “We are also separating patients and ensuring that those with mild symptoms are placed in COVID-19 care centres or are under home isolation. Only those with moderate and severe symptoms have to be hospitalised. This will ensure that those in need of medical attention get the best treatment,” she added.