KOLKATA: The state recorded less than 100 fresh Covid deaths for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, bringing some relief for health officials and doctors concerned about the high mortality rate despite the reduction in cases over the past three weeks.
The 95 deaths recorded on Wednesday was the lowest in over a month.
Measures taken by the health department, like forming smaller units of 35-45 patients in bigger Covid hospitals to ensure better monitoring, appears to have yielded results.
With cases continuing to decline sharply, experts said deaths will also continue to go down.
But they cautioned against complacency.
Daily deaths in the state had crossed the century mark for the first time in the pandemic on May 1 when 103 deaths were reported.
Though deaths in the two days that followed were 92 and 98 respectively, it crossed the three-digit mark and stayed that way throughout May and the first week of June.
The first time it again dipped below 100 was on Tuesday when 98 deaths were reported.
“Even as cases declined after the restrictions, deaths kept mounting because there was still a cumulative number of serious patients,” said infectious diseases specialist Yogiraj Ray of ID Hospital.
The high fatality was a concern for doctors.
While the highest death toll during the first wave was 66, recorded on a few occasions last October, the highest deaths till date in the second wave has been 162 on May 20, 2021.
“Mortality staying below 100 for two consecutive days is a good sign.
This second wave seems to be waning.
But we must be prepared for the third wave, expected to hit by October-November.
Vaccination to cover at least 60% of citizens before that is important,” said senior physician Sukumar Mukerjee, a member of Bengal’s global advisory board on Covid management.
Occupancy by critical-care patients in Covid hospitals is about 90% even though general bed occupancy is 50%.
“Cases will start rising again once the restrictions are eased.
The rising curve can be sharp if the chain of transmission has not been broken and gradual if it has.
We need to stay alert,” said Ray.