Maharashtra: 95% Hospitals Beds Vacant In State Despite Covid Surge, Says Rajesh Tope

Around 4-5 per cent of patients are admitted to hospitals for treatment in Maharasthra, said Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope

New Delhi: It seems that Omicron-led third wave has not brought misery like last time since almost 95 per cent of beds are vacant or the hospitalisation is lesser compared to the second wave in Maharasthra despite a high positive rate.

Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday said, "There is 95 per cent of beds are vacant in the state. Around 4-5 per cent of patients are admitted to hospitals for treatment".

Tope also said that the positivity rate in the state stands at 23.5 per cent but districts like Raigad, Pune, Nashik and Nanded are reporting a higher positive rate than the state average.

"The positivity rate in Maharashtra is 23.5 per cent but districts like Raigad, Pune, Nashik, Nanded have a much higher positive rate," Topi said, according to the news agency ANI.

He also said that over 50 per cent of teenagers have been vaccinated with the first dose of Covid-19.

Maharashtra on Thursday recorded 46,197 fresh coronavirus cases, including 125 Omicron infections, and 37 new deaths, while more than 52,000 patients recovered from the disease, the health department said.

Continuing the upward trend in Covid cases, India has reported nearly 3.5 lakh infections on Friday, The country registered 3,47,254 new COVID cases (29,722 more than yesterday) and 2,51,777 recoveries in the last 24 hours. India has also registered a surge in death tally as 703 people succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hrs.

9,692 total Omicron cases have been detected so far; an increase of 4.36 per cent since Thursday. India's active caseload currently stands at 20,18,825. The active cases stand at 5.23 per cent. The recovery rate is currently at 93.50 per cent.