Amit Shah calls for increasing capacity of hospitals & medical infrastructure for treatment of serious Covid patients in Delhi

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Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the prevailing COVID-19 situation in Delhi and medical infrastructure at a high level meeting in which he directed to increase the RT-PCR test in the national capital by two fold.

After holding the meeting, on Sunday, Mr Shah in a series of tweets said that mobile testing vans of the Ministry of Health and ICMR will be deployed where there is a high risk of COVID-19 infection by maximum use of the capacity of labs in Delhi.

He said, the capacity of hospitals and availability of other medical infrastructure in Delhi should be increased as well as 250 to 300 ICU beds will be added in DRDO COVID-19 Hospital located in Dhaula Kuan built in May this year so that treatment can be provided for serious Covid patients there.

Mr Shah said that the 10 thousand -bed Covid Center in Chhatarpur will be further strengthened with an aim to increase the availability of beds with oxygen facilities.

He said, some identified hospitals of MCD will be converted into dedicated hospitals for the treatment of mild Covid-19 patients.

Mr Shah also informed that dedicated multi-department teams will visit all private hospitals in Delhi for inspection of availability of COVID19 medical infrastructure, admission of patients and displaying of status of availability of beds as per the earlier decision.

He stressed on the need to review of all previously established containment measures like marking of containment zones, contact tracing, quarantine and screening in Delhi.

He said, particularly those who are at high risk should be constantly monitored. The Union Home Minister said additional doctors from CAPFs and paramedical staff will be airlifted to Delhi in view of shortage of healthcare workers.

The Home Minister said, directions have been given for protocol to be made for plasma donation and transfusion in the case of serious COVID19 patients.

He said, a high-level committee headed by NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul, Director General ICMR and Director AIIMS will submit a report on it soon.

Mr Shah also informed that more oxygen cylinders, High Flow Nasal Cannula and other necessary equipments will be made available to Delhi Government by the Central Government to save more and more people.

AIR correspondent reports, during the meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah specifically emphasized the need to keep track of Covid-19 patients, who are in home isolation, and to ensure that they are shifted to regular hospitals, as soon as urgent medical attention is required.

It was also decided that house-to-house survey in the entire Delhi will be conducted by the teams of AIIMS, Delhi Government and MCD and thereafter, all the symptomatic persons found in the survey would be tested and provided necessary treatment.

It was also said that there should be a strong communication strategy to educate people on Covid-19 appropriate behavior, and inform them about the negative impact of the disease on long term medical and health parameters.

Mr Shah also directed the authorities of Delhi Government and Police Commissioner to strictly enforce the necessary measures, especially wearing of face masks, so that there is no laxity in following of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour.

During the meeting Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the urgent need to bring down the incidence of Covid-19 in Delhi, and also ensure that there were no gaps in providing timely requisite medical treatment to the affected persons, particularly those who are poor and vulnerable.

He informed that the situation of Covid-19 in Delhi, as also in the neighboring areas of the National Capital Region would be reviewed on a continuous basis over the coming weeks.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and senior officials were present in the meeting.