Ramping up bed capacity must be topmost priority to handle COVID-19: L-G

Amid the rising case of coronavirus in the national capital, Lt Governor Anil Baijal said that procuring more beds and medical resources should be the priority of the government. The national capital has so far reported 34,867 COVID-19 cases and of these, 12,731 people have recovered.

New Delhi: Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Friday said ramping up bed capacity and medical resources should be the topmost priority in handling the COVID-19 situation to ensure that a surge in coronavirus cases does not overwhelm the city's healthcare system.

The L-G's comments came two days after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that Delhi would need 1.5 lakh beds by July 31 if people from other states start coming to the national capital for treatment.

Baijal, who held a meeting with Kejriwal, Health Minister Satyendar Jain and senior officers of Delhi government, said, "Our objective is to break the chain of transmission and reducing the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19".

In a statement, the L-G's office said he has asked field functionaries to ensure mobility restrictions, social distancing measures, hygienic practices, quarantine of contacts, risk communication and awareness among public on preventive and public health measures to contain the COVID-19 spread.

The L-G directed all district magistrates and deputy commissioners of police to focus on proper delineation, strict perimeter control, active house to house surveillance with special focus on high risk population for their effective management in accordance with the Centre's guidelines.

"Ramping up bed capacity and medical resources should be our topmost priority in handling the pandemic so that surge in cases doesn't overwhelm the healthcare system," Baijal was quoted as saying in the meeting.

In the meeting, Baijal was informed that the national capital has so far reported 34,867 COVID-19 cases and of these, 12,731 people have recovered.

The statement said: "77.8 per cent of the active cases are recuperating in home isolation. 242 containment zones are currently active in Delhi. The LG was also apprised about cluster analysis and district wise trend of COVID-19".

Earlier this week, Baijal had overruled the AAP government's order for reserving Delhi government-run and private hospitals only for residents of the city during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The chief minister had also announced that his government would implement the L-G's order as this was not the time for "disagreements and politics".

PTI Report