'Don’t rush to hospital unless necessary; many hospitals to be converted into COVID facilities’: Delhi CM
Delhi CM Kejriwal ordered several government and private hospitals to be completely converted into Covid facilities once again.
FollowAs Covid-19 cases see alarming rise in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday directed officials to increase the number of hospital beds for patients infected with the virus.
Some government and private hospitals will again be converted into fully Covid facilities, government officials said.
In the wake of the rising cases of coronavirus in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday held a Covid-19 review meeting and took stock of the situation. The meeting was attended by ministers and top officers of the Delhi government.
"Held a review meeting. We are taking several steps to increase beds in both private and government sectors, Kejriwal said in a tweet. The Delhi chief minister also urged people to cooperate. "Please follow covid protocols, don’t rush to a hospital unless necessary and go for vaccination if you are eligible," he said.
The statement came in wake of the Delhi government urging the Centre to ramp up Covid beds in its hospitals.
"We added 5,000 more beds last week and will add more. At present, there are 5,525 beds in Delhi. 190 beds are occupied which amounts to 2%. We have also requested central government to increase beds to their current tally of 190," state health minister Satyendra Jain was quoted as saying by ANI.
While addressing the media over the Covid situation in Delhi, Kejriwal had on Monday termed the situation "very serious" and appealed to people not to step out of houses unless it was urgent. "The fourth wave is more dangerous than the previous wave. The government is closely monitoring the situation," Kejriwal had said.
The Chief Minister earlier hinted out at a lockdown, stating that the government will be left with no option but to impose lockdown if the condition in hospitals worsens.
"Delhi government is not in favour of lockdown, but we will be left with no options if the situation worsens in hospitals," Kejriwal had said at a press conference.
The national capital recorded 10,774 fresh Covid-19 cases on Sunday, the highest single-day surge in the national capital till date. According to a bulletin issued by the health department on Sunday, 48 new fatalities were recorded, pushing the coronavirus death toll to 11,283.
