Beijing (China), March 16: China has taken measures to free up hospital beds after officials reported thousands of new cases of an Omicron-led coronavirus outbreak that has put millions on lockdown and prompted alarms about the health system on Wednesday.
The country witnessed 3,290 fresh Covid-19 cases, with 11 of them being severe.
However, the number fell down from more than 5,000 on Tuesday, but the highly transmissible variety is posing the most serious challenge yet to China's 'zero-Covid' pandemic-containment strategy.
For more than a year, China, where the first infection case was identified in Wuhan in late 2019, has not publicly recorded any Covid-related deaths.
Previously, all patients with any symptoms were referred to specialist hospitals under rigorous Covid-19 protocols.
However, a sharp increase in cases has raised fears about potential bed shortages, with the 17.5 million residents of the southern tech hub of Shenzhen being shut down and restrictions imposed on Shanghai and other cities.
Also Read | COVID-19 vaccination for 12-14 age group, 3rd dose for 60 plus begins
Late Tuesday, the National Health Commission said that patients with minor Covid infections might be isolated at a central quarantine facility to ease hospital congestion.
"Patients with Omicron variant strains are mainly asymptomatic infections and mild cases, most of them do not require serious treatment," the health authorities said, adding "All admission to designated hospitals will take up a lot of medical resources."
Visuals of patients laying on hospital beds outside Hong Kong facilities, which have been overwhelmed by a rise in cases, have alarmed mainland officials, who are now rushing to create makeshift hospitals in several provinces.
Also Read | COVID-19 vaccination for 12-14 age group, 3rd dose for 60 plus begins
-PTC News