Hospitals turn to pre-Covid biz as patients prefer home quarantine

The number of Covid beds dropped to 1,600 during the third quarter, and further dropped to 800 in January

The sudden spike in positive cases across many states is not making too many hospitals change their plans yet on winding down infrastructure exclusively linked to Covid-19. Hospitals and health care centres had begun freeing up space dedicated to Covid when cases went downhill. Even as cases have risen recently, home quarantine seems to be the preferred health care option for a large majority, according to health care executives.

The scene at Manipal Hospitals, which has the country’s second-largest hospital network in terms of beds, captures the new reality. The hospital has re-converted its Covid intensive care units into regular ICUs.