Bengaluru: In the wake of spurt in cases of coronavirus across the country, Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar asked private hospitals and nursing homes to reserve 50% of beds for COVID-19 patients.
He said that after the meeting with the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA), this decision has been taken and private hospitals have been advised to vacate beds occupied by non-COVID patients who don't require hospitalisation.
The Minister said that patients without symptoms and with mild symptoms will be isolated in hotels and COVID care centres whereas only serious patients will be treated in hospitals.
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"Drugs companies have stopped production of Remdesivir. We are in need of this drug. Private hospitals have complained that the Remdesivir is not available in the market. We will discuss the issue with the drug controller and supply it to private hospitals at government rates," he said, adding that the state government has taken required measures to ensure a sufficient quantity of ventilators and oxygen.
Urging people to cooperate in controlling the spread of the virus, Sudhakar also said that at least 2.2 crore COVID tests have been conducted in the state so far out of which 85% are RT-PCR tests.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday said the state government could impose a lockdown if the necessity arises.
Notably, the state recorded 10,250 fresh COVID cases and 40 deaths in the last 24 hours.
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