New Delhi: In a letter to states and Union Territories, the Centre on Monday said five to 10 per cent of the active Covid-19 cases required hospitalisation so far.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, however, said the situation was dynamic and might change rapidly. The Centre asked states to keep a watch on cases under home isolation and in hospitals.
"In the present surge, five to 10 per cent of active cases needed hospitalisation so far. The situation is dynamic and evolving. Therefore, the need for hospitalisation may also change rapidly," Bhushan said.
During the devastating second wave last year, the hospitalisation rate was in the range of 20-23 per cent, the letter to states said.
On Monday, India registered 1,79,723 new Covid-19 cases, the highest in around 227 days. The Health Ministry data showed India's Omicron tally at 4,033 cases across 27 states and union territories.
In the letter, Bhushan said the spike in Covid-19 cases appeared to be driven by the Omicron variant as well as by the continued presence of Delta.
The government asked the states to augment human resources, particularly healthcare workers, for Covid management.
"All states and Union Territories are advised to keep a daily watch on the situation of the total number of active cases, cases under home isolation, the number of hospitalised cases, cases on oxygen beds, ICU beds and on ventilatory support," the letter said.
The Union Health Secretary lauded the states for taking steps to establish jumbo health facilities and field hospitals.
"It is important to conserve healthcare workers by initiating staggering wherever possible and by restricting elective procedures in the hospitals," the letter said.
The Health Ministry has suggested states and Union Territories to earmark different categories of beds in private establishments for Covid care.
"It must also be ensured that charges levied by such health facilities are reasonable and there is a mechanism to monitor and initiate action in cases of over-charging if any," Bhushan said in the letter.
He also suggested engaging retired medical professionals or MBBS students for teleconsultation services and providing skill training of community volunteers in basic care and management at Covid Care Centres.
"All district hospitals and medical college hospitals should be used as eSanjeevani teleconsultation hubs. Requisite financial resources for this have already been provided under ECRP-II to states and Union Territories," the letter said.