'Epidemic likely to enter its peak phase within next two to three weeks'.

Byline: Faiza Ilyas

KARACHI -- There is an immediate need to enhance and strengthen admission and intensive care capacity for Covid-19 patients at hospitals as there has been a surge in cases with severe illness recently, which indicates that the epidemic is likely to enter its peak phase within next two to three weeks.

This was stated by experts at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) during a conversation with Dawn on Thursday.

The institute has been running a coronavirus clinic since March 18. So far, 287 people have tested positive out of the 4,596 screened at the clinic.

Currently, according to experts, positive cases constitute about 20 to 25 per cent of the total cases (150 to 200) being reported daily. Seven patients have died of Covid-19 till now.

'There has been an increase in the number of positive cases. More patients are now [also] reporting with severe illness. This pattern suggests that the next two to three weeks are crucial when the epidemic peaks,' said Dr Sunil Dodani, head of the infectious diseases department at SIUT.

SIUT reports increase in positive cases, disease severity

Over the last few days, 15 patients had been admitted to the hospital with at least three patients requiring observation in the intensive care unit, he added.

Citing increasing referrals of coronavirus cases to SIUT, he said the designated Covid-19 treatment facilities were running out of space and there was an immediate need to prepare more hospitals to admit and treat Covid-19 cases.

Asked about the number of dialysis patients reporting with Covid-19 infection, he said while only three patients registered with SIUT for dialysis had so far reported with the infection, three such cases were referred to the institute from other healthcare facilities.

'The healthcare facilities on which these patients had been relying on for dialysis simply refused to continue the life-saving procedure after they contracted coronavirus.

'Also, we received a referred thalassaemia patient who was denied blood transfusion at a centre on the excuse that the procedure would contaminate their machines with the virus,' he said.

Fear factor

Explaining how the institute manages coronavirus patients also requiring other life-saving procedures such as blood transfusion and dialysis, he said Covid-19 was not a blood-borne infection and only transmitted to humans through respiratory droplets.

'Healthcare providers are too scared to handle a coronavirus case...