Centre in SC blames Delhi govt for rise in COVID cases, says no steps taken despite exhortations

Centre on Friday blamed Delhi government for rising COVID-19 cases in national capital and said that despite “repeated exhortations” it did t take steps to enhance testing capacity, particularly for RT-PCR, which remained static at around 20,000 tests for a long time.

Centre said that Delhi government was well aware that confluence of winter, festival season and pollution were likely to witness a surge in cases and this forekwledge ought to have led to strict enforcement and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) measures being instituted well in time but this was t done.

In its affidavit, filed before top court, Ministry of Home affairs (MHA), said “while re were regular vertisements on achievements of Delhi Government, including on dengue prevention and control, s on COVID appropriate behaviour were to be seen. people, at large, were also t apprised about this through regular outreach measures”.

It said, “That despite repeated exhortations in wake of rising COVID-19 cases, Delhi Government did t take steps to enhance testing capacity, particularly for RT-PCR, which remained static at around 20,000 RTPCR tests for a long time”.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R S Reddy and M R Shah took Centre’s affidavit on record and observed that “Things are going from b to worse but concrete steps are being taken.

States will have to rise above politics. All states will have to rise to occasion,” bench said while posting matter for furr hearing on December 1.

Centre said that despite issuing several elaborate and exhaustive guidelines for containment and prevention of infection and for ensuring proper treatment of COVID patients, Delhi government saw its first wave of Coronavirus infection in month of June-July and union government immediately h to take pro-active and pre-emptive steps to control furr spre of Covid-19.

Centre pointed out that to deal with shortcomings, which le to a massive increase in COVID infection and increasing strain on capacity of medical infrastructure in hospitals of Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was constrained to call ar meeting on vember 15 to review situation in national capital.

It said that even w, “after it was committed that GNCTD would increase ICU (n-ventilator) beds by around 2,680, Chief Minister, vide its letter dated vember 19, 2020 dressed to Union Home Minister, has expressed his inability to enhance ICU beds in Delhi (State Government and private) hospitals by more than around 912, and has asked Central Government to create ditional 1,700 ICU beds”.

It said that several meetings were held by cabinet secretary, union home secretary and health secretary with all concerned officials of Delhi government, municipal bodies and ors to review status of COVID-19 manment and it was emphasised that all steps be taken to contain situation in Delhi.

Centre pointed out that despite constant monitoring by MHA about scrupulous compliance of directions by Delhi government various short-comings, going into root of matter, were ticed in implementation of program.

It said that reafter a series of review meetings chaired by Union Health Secretary were held from July 8 to vember 13 and several issues were regularly emphasized to Delhi government.

affidavit highlighted shortcomings which include conversion of more beds into oxygenated/ventilator supported beds, strict perimeter control of containment zones, and more testing and especially through RT-PCR method, to ensure that COVID positive persons are detected early and medical response can be given.

Centre said that several or issues which were flagged in review meetings include that Delhi must monitor requirement of ambulances and or infrastructure so that patient remains untreated and responded to and in view of approaching festival period, marri season and winter climatic conditions, GNCTD shall act proactively and thoroughly act according to guidelines.

“In dition, Cabinet Secretary also reviewed COVID19 situation in 08 States/UTs including NCT of Delhi which constitute of 62 per cent of nationwide active cases and 61 per cent of total deaths, through Video conference on vember 11”, it said, ding that it was emphasized on strict implementation of guidelines for COVID and rigor of containment measures.

Detailing shortcomings found on part of Delhi government, Centre said that effective preventive steps to contain infection were taken despite recommendation of high power committee heed by Dr V K Paul, member NITI Ayog, which said that Delhi should plan for a surge of around 15,000 cases per day and accordingly provide for about 6,500 ICU beds.

It said that Delhi government did t take any timely measures to increase ICU beds from present level of around 3,500, thus causing a sudden pressure to come on health and medical infrastructure in Delhi.

Centre said that even patients who were under home isolation were t properly traced and/or ir contacts were also t traced effectively.

(Photo Credit: Twitter/CMODelhi)