AGARTALA, Aug 26 - The overall COVID-19 situation in Tripura continues to be alarming as five more patients died of the infection and 329 more persons tested positive during the past 24 hours.
The total death toll has risen to 83, while the COVID-19 tally has surged to 9,194, according to a medical bulletin issued by the Health Department here today. As of now, the State has 2,534 active cases.
While the fatality rate has soared from 0.88 per cent to 0.90 per cent within 24 hours, the recovery rate has come down from 72.05 per cent to 71.50 per cent. There has been no major change in the percentage of the positivity rate that stays at 3.70 per cent.
So far, 2,49,703 swabs have been collected, out of which 2,48,668 samples have already been tested. The COVID-19 tests will be intensified to trace more patients. At present, the State conducts around 4,000 tests daily.
With the number of positive cases going up, the State Government has decided to expand facilities in the COVID care centres at Hapania and the Bhagat Singh Hostel. �The dedicated COVID treatment centre of the GB Pant Hospital is overcrowded due to the steep spike in the positive cases. The Government has decided to treat only critical COVID-19 patients at the GB Pant Hospital, while relatively mild and asymptomatic cases will be shifted to COVID care centres,� said a senior Health Department official here today.
Since the COVID-19 caseload is likely to peak in October, additional beds will be laid at the GB Pant Hospital�s dedicated COVID treatment centre and two more COVID care centres to accommodate more patients. The mild and asymptomatic patients will be advised to stay at home (home isolation) and undergo treatment as per protocol prescribed by the ICMR. However, complicated cases will be dealt with at the designated COVID treatment or COVID care centres.
Sources said the Government is also exploring to impose another lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19, but no decision has been taken yet. Medical experts today admitted the situation in the State is really alarming. �If the situation continues, community transmission may take place soon,� warned a senior doctor today.
