Chennai: Waiting for beds, COVID-19 patients breathe their last in ambulances

Three COVID-19 patients, who were waiting for beds outside Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital, died in the ambulances on Thursday. Earlier, four patients had died in a similar manner here.

Chennai: Three COVID-19 patients, who were waiting for beds outside Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital, died in the ambulances on Thursday.

Tamil Nadu has been witnessing over 30,000 cases on a daily basis. Private hospitals treat patients for fever and cold among other illnesses. However, they direct patients with breathing difficulties to government hospitals. Naturally, the caseload on Chennai -- a metropolitan area and the state's capital -- has thus increased exponentially.

COVID-19 patients with severe breathing problems from Chennai, Chengalpet and Thiruvallur districts are directed to Rajiv Gandhi Hospital. As a result, a long queue of ambulances carrying patients outside the hospital is a common sight. Earlier, four patients had died waiting for beds outside this hospital.

"Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital has 845 beds, all of which are currently occupied," Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian said.