India is preparing itself for a possible surge of patients infected with COVID-19, the respiratory infection caused by the novel coronavirus dubbed SARS-CoV-2. Since more and more people are getting infected, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India has asked hospitals to set up separate intensive care units for the critical cases of COVID-19 infection.
An Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a special department of a hospital which provides intensive care to critically ill patients. Similarly, for COVID-19 infection rapid ICUs are being set up, so that intensive care can be given to patients with severe symptoms. The ICU is staffed with healthcare workers of varying specialities and is specially furnished with all the necessary equipment. Rapid ICUs for COVID-19 are being used to contain the infection, to keep infected patients in isolation and to keep other patients away from those severely affected by the disease.
According to data from several countries, only 20 to 30 percent of all people who would test positive for the COVID-19 infection may require hospitalisation, and out of that only 5 to 11 percent require intensive care.
Here in this article, we will tell you about the special requirements of an ICU for COVID-19 infected patients.