Increasing the number of ICU beds for COVID-19 patients in Delhi: CM Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi government is making arrangements to increase number of ICU beds in hospitals in view of rising number of COVID-19 cases here, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday.

"We may need more ICU beds in coming days. Arrangements are being made to increase ICU beds in hospitals," he told reporters after visiting  Radha Soami Satsang Beas centre in Chhatarpur to review COVID-19 preparations.

Radha Soami Satsang Beas centre is being  converted into world's largest temporary COVID care facility with 10,000 beds, to help city in dealing with surging coronavirus cases, Delhi government said in a statement.

chief minister said facility will be ready by first week of July. It will be used as an isolation centre for COVID-19 asymptomatic patients or those with mild symptoms who may have problems in being home quarantined.

Kejriwal earlier in day attended a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah where senior officials from Delhi-NCR were also present to discuss pandemic manment in region.

"I had a meeting with union home minister today, where he discussed that whole NCR should work toger in battle against COVID-19. We discussed that NCR cant be separated, and we must fight pandemic toger,” Kejriwal said.

chief minister said Covid Care Centre at Radha Soami Satsang Beas grounds at Chhatarpur will also have a small section of beds with oxygen support facility.

"We are also arranging doctors, nurses, and medical staff for this accommodation. By June 30, we will need 15,000 beds and by July 15, we will need 30,000 beds, refore, we are preparing se accommodations," he said. 

chief minister also said Delhi government has taken over various hotels and banquet halls to arrange more beds for treatment of COVID-19 patients. 

"Some of hotels appealed to court for a stay order, but we have won case and work of converting hotels into isolation centres is in process," Kejriwal said.

All hotels are connected with a hospital and a patient staying re will be shifted to concerned hospital in case of need of critical care, he added.

(Photo Credit: PTI)