Death audit committees reactivated, Delhi orders vax for 60+ to be expedited

NEW DELHI: With the number of Covid-19 fatalities rising in the national capital, Delhi government on Wednesday reactivated its death audit committee and also ordered the completion of second-dose coverage of senior citizens as soon as possible.

The capital reported 40 Covid-19 deaths on Wednesday, the highest one-day toll in seven months, taking the total number of fatalities to 133. To ensure that every death is reported in a timely manner according to SOPs issued in 2020, both government-run and private hospitals have been directed to follow a detailed format.

“All medical directors and medical superintendents of government-run hospitals have been informed and district magistrates have been directed to inform private hospitals in their jurisdiction to follow the reporting format,” a Delhi government official said. “Every hospital and health facility treating Covid-19 patients will have to designate a nodal officer to ensure all deaths are reported timely,” he said.

The death audit committee was first constituted in April 2020, with former director general of health services, Dr Ashok Kumar, as the chairperson and Dr Vikas Dogra and Dr R N Das as members. The committee audits each evening deaths in which the Covid-19 test is positive.

“The rising number of deaths is a cause of worry and it has been found that in most cases, the deceased are senior citizens and those with comorbidities. Even though the Omicron variant is mild compared to Delta, the vulnerable population needs to be careful,” the official said.

“Most households in Delhi have pulse oximeters, which should be used to check oxygen levels daily in both symptomatic and asymptomatic Covid-19 patients. In case anyone doesn’t have an oximeter, the Delhi government would be happy to provide one,” he said, adding that in case of any health-related queries, people can call on the Covid helpline 1031.

The official said that in many deaths, patients reached the hospital only after serious symptoms and, many times, with alarmingly low oxygen levels. “This is why checking oxygen levels and blood pressure is very important,” he added.

A recent analysis of the 46 Covid deaths between January 5 and January 9 revealed that 25 patients were above 60 years of age, followed by 14 in the 41-60 age group. Also, 76% of those who died were not fully vaccinated.

“The government has ordered the completion of full vaccine coverage, particularly of the vulnerable population, within a week,” he said, adding, “It has been found that vaccination is saving lives in the current wave. We are also trying to administer booster shots to those eligible as soon as possible.”