After taking stock of the COVID-19 situation in Maharashtra on Sunday, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray asked the officers in the Task Force to focus on institutional quarantine rather than home isolation of patients. His direction needs to be viewed against the backdrop of data indicating that a majority -- 58.50 per cent -- of the patients in Maharashtra were in home isolation as on March 22 (last week). As far as Nagpur district is concerned, as many as 76.22 per cent of the COVID-19 patients as on March 22 were in home isolation! According to officials in the know of things but did not wish to be quoted, there was reluctance in the minds of COVID-19 patients about institutional quarantine. Many have apprehensions about getting admitted to Government or private hospital, and prefer to stay in home isolation for emotional comfort as well as comfort of movement. However, in the process, they miss out timely monitoring of vital health parameters and timely extension of medical care, rued an officer.

 

 

However, another officer pointed out, even if decision is taken to ensure institutional quarantine of all COVID-19 patients, the number of hospital beds is inadequate. As on Sunday, there were total 37,776 active cases in Nagpur district. Of these, 27,639 were in Nagpur city alone, and remaining 10,137 in rural areas. As per State Government’s data, Nagpur district had recorded maximum 21,746 active cases during the ‘first wave’ of infections last year. Compared to that, the number of active cases as on Sunday (March 28, 2021) was higher by 16,030! Considering that the number of active cases fluctuates daily depending upon improvement or drop in number of recoveries, the situation remains fluid about hospital beds availability.

 

So, properly devised blending of home isolation, institutional quarantine, and reservation of beds for emergency cases will have to continue. State Government data on COVID-19 patients in home isolation as on March 22 showed that Nagpur district was fourth in the number. Hingoli had the highest 81.13 per cent active patients in home isolation, followed by Nandurbar with 79.60 per cent, Dhule with 77.45 per cent, and then Nagpur with 76.22 per cent active patients in home isolation.