KEM Hospital shifts eight COVID-19 patients to SevenHills in Andheri

After two patients at KEM Hospital died in what were initially suspected to be COVIDrelated deaths the hospital shifted eight COVIDpositive patients to SevenHills Hospital in Andheri late Sunday night The move came after a 59yearold woman and a 14yearold girl who died on Saturday and last week respectively tested positive for the virus despite both having serious comorbiditiesWhile 59yearold Vaijayanti Varikrsquos death was officially attributed to sepsis due to cancer the minor reportedly died of kidney failure ldquoBoth patients had terminal illnesses Although they tested positive for COVID19 the virus did not play a role in their deteriorationrdquo said Dr Sandesh Paralkar acting dean of KEM HospitalPatients shifted as precautionDespite the deceased patients families and the medical staff not being tested for COVID19 the hospital moved eight other COVIDpositive patients to SevenHills Hospital ldquoSeven Hills was a major COVID19 facility during the pandemic Since these patients didnrsquot test positive for any illness besides COVID we shifted them thererdquo said Dr ParalkarDr Krishnakumar G Pimpale vicepresident medical SevenHills Hospital told midday ldquoAll eight patients are in the ICU under close observation We are not authorised to provide further information They have not tested positive for any other health issues so farrdquoCremated without familyA relative of Varik recounted their ordeal ldquoShe had surgery for mouth cancer on February 5 A few days ago her son brought her to Mumbai for a change of environment She was fine until Tuesday night when she had trouble breathing We rushed her to KEM where she was put on a ventilator She started responding the next day but her health suddenly worsened on Saturday night and she passed awayrdquo He added ldquoJust as her son went to sign the final paperwork to claim the body hospital staff told us she had tested positive for COVID19 and her cremation would be done as per COVID protocol No family member would be allowed at the site Her husband is in Kolhapur mdash we wanted to take the body there so he could see her one last time But the hospital cremated her without letting us even see her They also made us sign a form that had lsquoCOVID19rsquo written on itrdquoSimilarly the 14yearold girls body was also cremated under COVID19 protocols without being handed over to her family The two COVIDpositive deaths have sparked concern Shivadi MLA Ajay Chaudhary said ldquoIf COVID19 wasnrsquot the cause of death then why werenrsquot the bodies given to families Why were they cremated under COVID protocol Wersquore not trying to spread fear but if cases are reemerging why hide it Wersquove already learned that prevention is better than a curerdquoIn a statement the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC confirmed that COVID cases had been reported since January with numbers increasing in May ldquoCOVID19 is now considered endemic and a persistent public health concern While cases are sporadic and in small numbers an uptick has been observed recently in countries like Singapore Hong Kong and other parts of East Asiardquo the statement saidThe municipal corporation clarified that the two COVIDpositive deaths at KEM Hospital were due to severe comorbidities and not the virus itself The deceased were not Mumbai residentsMeanwhile some private hospitals have also reported a rise in COVID19 casesldquoTherersquos no alarming situation like a pandemicrdquo Dr Rahul Pandit chair critical care Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital told this newspaperldquoThis is a seasonal uptick Wersquove seen OPD outpatient department cases with fever and cough some tested positive but all are recovering in home isolation within daysrdquoCommon COVID19 symptomsFever cough sore throat fatigue body aches headache cold runny nose and loss of taste or smell Difficulty in breathing is a serious sign and requires immediate medical attentionHealth facilities for those infectedSevenHills Hospital has 20 MICU beds 20 beds for children and pregnant women and 60 general beds Kasturba Hospital has two ICU beds and a 10bed ward Capacity will be increased if required Citizens with symptoms are advised to consult a BMC centre or doctor immediately Selfmedication is not advisedPrecautions Wear a mask in public if symptomatic Maintain physical distancing Wash hands frequently Eat healthy and rest wellActress tests positive for virusrsquo90s actress Shilpa Shirodkar shared on social media ldquoHello people Irsquove tested positive for COVID Stay safe and wear your masksrdquoIn numbers257Active COVID cases in the countryDischarged44511240988137Deaths53366611837atOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params