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NEW DELHI: Low platelet count is one of the common features of viral infections. But, in most cases, the platelets reach normal levels as soon as the infection subsides.
However, in the case of Covid-19, doctors have come across patients who continue to exhibit low platelet counts for weeks after recovery.
In most cases, the doctors pointed out, the deficit in platelets was marginal and didn’t require medical intervention. But there have been rare cases of patients coming with extremely low platelet counts necessitating medical management.
“We saw three recovered patients recently with very low 10,000-20,000 platelets per microlitre of blood. One 85-year-old man had a count of 2,000 with extensive bleeding below the skin. All of them required medical management, including administration of steroids,” said Dr Atul Gogia, senior consultant, internal medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
A government official admitted at the peak of the current surge in Delhi, Covid testing began declining, apparently because the manpower engaged in conducting tests themselves became infected. To manage future waves, the Rockefeller Foundation has suggested developing a cafeteria approach to testing i.e. making available a diverse portfolio of tests with clear guidance.
The Rockefeller Foundation Releases Recommendations for Equitable, Cost-Effective, and Scalable Covid-19 Testing and Tracing in India 05.20.21
NEW DELHI | May 20, 2021: As India and its health system are at a critical moment facing a second wave of the worst pandemic in a century, The Rockefeller Foundation released a strategic roadmap for strengthening testing and tracing to help control this surge and to manage future waves. “The Road Ahead for Smart Covid-19 Testing and Tracing in India” is an evidence-based report with recommendations to support equitable, cost-effective, and scalable solutions in India that will bolster the country’s pandemic response in a resource-constrained environment. The report is based on insights and inputs from an expert advisory panel convened by the Foundation over the course of seven months.
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NEW DELHI: Delhi recorded more than 400 cases of Covid-19 for the second consecutive day with 431 people testing positive for the viral infection on Friday. On Thursday, the city had recorded 409 new cases. Friday’s tally is the highest single-day count in nearly two months, officials in Delhi’s health department said.
They added: “In the last 24 hours, 72,031 samples were tested using RT-PCR and rapid antigen test (RAT). Of them, 431 came positive. The positivity rate was 0.6%.”
Dr Navin Dang, founder of Dr Dang’s Lab, said that till about two weeks ago, it seemed that things were good. “It appeared that we had fought our way through the pandemic. But the trend of positive cases over the last few days has proved that the fight is far from over,” he added. According to Dr Dang, socially irresponsible behaviour is a prime cause of spurt in cases. “People have thrown caution to the winds,” he said.