By Mahima Devkota, Kathmandu, May .30: With the decrease in the numbers of COVID-19 patients and fatality rate in the country, beds for COVID-19 patients are easily available in three major government hospitals dedicated to the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Medical doctors at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (STIDH), National Trauma Center, and T.U. Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, confirmed the availability of beds, oxygen, and ventilators in three hospitals. However, they stressed to abide by health safety protocols, saying that the spread of SARS-CoV-2 has only narrowed and not controlled.

According to Dr. Ram Bikram Adhikari, spokesperson at the T.U. Teaching Hospital, no patients have returned from COVID-19 emergency or are listed in the pending list for the last three days.

Dr. Adhikari, said, “5 of the 52 totals beds of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are empty as of now. There are officially 667 normal beds for patients. However, we have adding beds and shifting non COVID-19 patients as per the pressure of COVID-19 patients.”

Beds and oxygen cylinders in the hospitals are accessible for the COVID-19 patients, Dr. Adhikari informed The Rising Nepal.

Nearly 30 feet long oxygen tank has also been installed and is expected to fulfill the oxygen need as well, he added.

However, some conviviality from health workers of Teaching Hospital regarding lack of consideration for health workers in the budget speech as made yesterday have been expressed as well.

Meanwhile, three deaths from COVID-19 infection have been recorded today in the hospital.

According to Dr.  Anup Bastola, Chief Consultant at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (STIDH), even though there are patients in ventilators and some are in critical condition, the pressure of patients in ICU and visiting hospital in critical condition have slowed down.

Dr. Bastola said, “Because of the pressure of COVID-19 patients as well as lack of beds, we were compelled to treat patients in stretchers and even in hospital ground not long ago. However, with the decrease in the number of COVID-19 patients, infection rate as well as patients who visit hospitals, critical condition has relaxed in the hospital as well.”

“The emergency beds, as well as oxygen and ventilators, are vacant thus are available for COVID-19 patients,” said Dr. Bastola, whilst urging denizens to be sensitive by abiding by the health safety standards.

Out of 100 general HDU beds/ normal beds, only 88 are packed now and there are 24 ICU beds and 17 ventilators in the hospital.

Arjun Prasad Bhetuwal, spokesperson at the National Trauma Center, said that beds and oxygen in the trauma center are available.

Bhetuwal, said, “Of the 200 beds, 84 are occupied, others are vacant. Similarly, the ratio of the pressure of COVID-19 patients in ICU, ventilators and emergency red zone has eased as well.”

Trauma Center which released a public notice for acute shortage of oxygen now has been smoothly fulfilling the demand for oxygen and cylinders. 80 oxygen cylinder and liquid cylinders each third day, as assigned quota by the government, is now enough for COVID-19 patients, he added.