Delhi to create 36,000 Covid beds to tackle third wave

NEW DELHI: Delhi government will have 36,000 hospital beds for the exclusive use of Covid-19 patients before the expected new surge in infections.
The city’s healthcare manpower will also be honed to handle the possible wave.
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal held meetings with the expert and preparation committees on Friday to review the arrangements that began immediately upon the current surge of Covid infections ebbing.
Currently, Delhi has around 24,500 Covid beds, which is many times more what was available around the same time last year.
Experts have suggested that despite the fall in daily Covid cases, development of medical infrastructure should not be allowed to de-escalate.
“The experience of other countries teaches that we should be careful about the probable third Covid wave and make advance preparations. In the wake of it, CM Arvind Kejriwal held a meeting with an experts committee where many important issues were discussed,” the office of the CM tweeted. Kejriwal is likely to address a press conference on Saturday to share details of the preparations being made to meet a resurgence in the pandemic.
In another tweet, the CM’s office said, “CM met the preparation committee after meeting the expert committee on the probable third Covid wave. The preparations have begun on all fronts be that oxygen management or ICU beds.” The preparation committee consists of bureaucrats and is headed by additional chief secretary Satya Gopal, while the expert committee comprises medical professionals and government officials.
In the latest wave of infection, Delhi was shaken by a high toll and a massive hike in percentage of infection. The preparations for the third Covid wave, therefore, hold great significance. There is a need for the government to fine-tune the preparations because the resources are limited and it is within these limits that Delhi has to create the most efficient medical infrastructure that will support a maximum number of people in distress.
A government source said separate presentations were made on the number of required beds, human resources, oxygen, Covid drugs and also on the status of vaccination coverage and how it can be augmented. Delhi has just recently weathered a killing shortage of oxygen and drugs. Kejriwal also listened to the presentation on the existing and ongoing preparations and experts gave inputs on how to check the spread of the coronavirus spread and bring down mortality.
The state government is already halfway through its plan to ensure availability of medical oxygen to meet increased demands during a possible resurgence. It will have 57 PSA oxygen plants by August.
It has garnered 9,700 oxygen cylinders from domestic sources and from China, while 4600 oxygen concentrators have already been procured and 3,300 more will be brought to Delhi by the end of this month.
The government is also creating a buffer stock of liquid medical oxygen and boosting paediatric infrastructure in case the third wave proves detrimental to children’s health.
In Friday’s vaccination bulletin, AAP MLA Atishi said that over 55 lakh individuals have been given the Covid vaccine in Delhi, 12 lakh who have received both doses.
She, however, said that there was no Covaxin to give the 45+ their second dose or 18-44-year-olds their first. Covishield doses were available for those above 45 years.
Atishi said, “5.9 lakh doses of Covishield are available for the 45+, enough for 28 days of vaccination. But there has been no vaccine for the youth in Delhi for 12 days.” Saying 50 lakh vaccines were needed and only 5 lakh sanctioned, the MLA urged the Centre to provide the required number of doses.