Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7

Facing a shortage of beds amid a sharp rise in the number of Covid patients, the Central Government has handed over 70-bed ESI Hospital to the UT Administration to treat Covid patients.

Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for making available the hospital to the Chandigarh Administration, UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore directed the Health Department to ensure that sufficient quantity of medicines, oxygen, PPE kits, etc., are supplied to this hospital.

With the facilities available along with the facilities being created by NGOs and charitable institutions, it would go a long way in reducing the burden and stress on government hospitals, he said during a review meeting on the pandemic here today.

The Administrator directed the Health Department to improve the functioning of Covid helpline. He desired that all persons ringing up the designated number should be properly counselled and all medical assistance be provided to them, when required.

He directed the Chairman, CITCO, to explore the possibility of utilising Hotel Parkview for accommodating Covid patients, who want better facilities on payment. He suggested that the Indian Medical Association should be requested to run this facility in the hotel, which could be utilised by Chandigarh residents. Basic medical care and nursing should be provided in the hotel on a payment basis, he added.

Badnore reviewed the availability of oxygen in various medical institutions and directed that all efforts be made to ensure that there is no paucity.

He stated that with Army Hospital coming up on Monday on the Panjab University campus, the availability of beds would further improve.

DRDO gets nod to set up Covid care centre

The UT Administration has given permission to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, to set up and operate a DRDO Covid quarantine-cum-care centre at a building in Sector 38-B. Keeping in view the increasing number of Covid cases in the city, the UT Administration has given a clarion call for setting up mini-Covid care centres voluntarily by various social organisations and associations.

Strictly abide by protocol: Badnore

UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore appealed to residents to strictly abide by the Covid protocol so that the infection could be restricted. The Administrator directed that the weekend curfew should be strictly enforced by the police. Residents should stay indoors. Only essential travel will be allowed during the curfew period.