Factors Affecting Covid-19 Critical Care Capacity: A Case Study of Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Covid-19 was declared a pandemic in 2020 and diffused everywhere in the world. Since then, many models have been created to study the diffusion of the disease. This paper is an attempt to predict the dispersion of COVID-19 and extract the prime factors of COVID-19 critical surge care capacity in Lahore. The primary data were collected using a questionnaire as a tool. The data were obtained from both public and private hospitals in Lahore. The implementation of factor analysis in the current study of the prime causes of COVID-19 surge capacity was analyzed to anticipate a reference for rudimentary research on COVID-19 and its prevention and management. It was analyzed through factor analysis that Patient Surge during the peak month of the pandemic caused employee burden, PPE unavailability and shortage, lack of testing supplies, bed and ventilator shortages, and an increase in cases with no hygiene and precautionary measures. These are the major factors that were responsible for the surge of disease in Lahore. It was identified that resolving these basic issues can bring improvements in future disease management, early preparation, and quick response to the pandemic outbreak to prevent human suffering and financial loss.