Karwar: In a positive sign, Covid-19 infection has been reducing drastically in Uttara Kannada district since the second week of December with the number of cases not crossing 10. But alarmingly, patients who are admitted to intensive care units now are in more critical condition than before. 

Covid testing is being done on a large scale and the number of positive cases has reduced drastically, barring December 19 when 20 cases were recorded, Gajanan Naik, Dean, Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) told reporters. 

"On normal days, cases do not cross 10 and there are hardly 10 patients in ICUS,” Dr Naik said, adding that cases have fallen in almost all taluks, including Bhatkal and Haliyal where the highest number of cases were re corded during the peak.

Even though cases have reduced, the number of tests being done now is the same as before. "We are conducting 800 tests every day. Earlier, we used to detect positive cases ranging between 50 and 80. Many times it would exceed the 100 mark, but now we are getting less than 15 cases. Sometimes the cases are in single digits," said Dr Naik.

On patients in ICUs, he said that the condition of those who are being admitted now are worse compared to those admitted earlier. "We have seen patients in ICU from May to September - considered the peak period. They were indeed given critical care. But patients admitted now are more critical and re quire constant care. It could be a mutation of the virus, or something else; we do not know," he said, adding that KIMS is ready for any eventuality.

Asked about a second wave, he said that nothing can be said as of now.