Locked inside house, but Covid got them! - The Times Of India

Locked inside house, but Covid got them! - The Times Of India

Surge Recorded In Positivity Among Senior Citizens

Parth.Shastri @timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad: 21.11.2020 

The positive result of Covid-19 test for Umadevi, 92, bedridden for past one year due to age-related issues, surprised her family members on November 18

Vivek Verma (name changed), her son and a resident of Bodakdev, said that she started developing incessant coughing, ran mild fever and also complained of body ache.

“We did not wish to take her to the hospital, but as the doctors suggested administering remdesivir to stabilize her condition, we admitted her to a hospital near our residence. Her condition is stable,” he said.

They may have not gone out of the proverbial four walls of the house, but still Covid-19 caught up with many senior citizens in the city. Experts said that mingling during the festivities, gatherings at houses and change in weather conditions could be some of the factors responsible for the phenomenon.

“City-based hospitals have witnessed several such instances. We recently saw a case where an elderly couple had tested positive. Their sons had returned to the city after seven months just to celebrate Diwali with them. They had almost lived alone for the entire period of lockdown as their domestic helps were also living with them in their bungalow premises,” said Dr Bharat Gadhvi, president of Ahmedabad Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (AHNA). “Those above 60 years of age generally develop complications related to Covid-19 quickly. As the number of senior citizens has increased in overall bed occupancy in the city, the demand for beds with oxygen supply has also increased.”

Dr J P Modi, medical superintendent of Civil Hospital, said that they received 1,979 patients in the past fortnight. “Out of the total, only 104 were below 30 years of age, forming 5% of total patients. On the other hand, the patients above 51 years formed 74% of the patients,” he said. “Winter is known to have more cases of viral infection. Thus, measures such as ‘reverse quarantine’ where the elderly reduce their exposure to the outside world are also suggested,” he said.

Gujarat in 24 hours carried out 67,901 tests, the highest in two months