30K O2 beds ready in Delhi to deal with Omicron Covid variant threat: Kejriwal
Delhi is well equipped for any incoming threat of the Omicron variant, said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The CM chaired a high-level meeting with all concerned authorities to review the state’s preparedness against Covid. Among growing concerns about the new variant and its probable threat, the status of health facilities was addressed and orders were issued to increase these.
Plans carved for health services – beds, oxygen, medicines and vaccines – to reach every ward and every single person in Delhi. 30,000 COVID beds are ready in Delhi, with 100 beds per ward to be arranged as and when required on a 2 week notice. Medicine stocks are currently being added, and home isolation arrangements are being strengthened.
“Oxygen supply & storage is being bolstered and telemetry devices to provide real time oxygen tracking are being installed in all oxygen facilities. 6,000 oxygen cylinders have been imported and 15 oxygen tankers bought to prevent oxygen shortage. 97% Delhiites have received the first dose of the vaccine, and 57% are fully vaccinated. The CM concluded by urging people to get their second dose soon, and said that Delhi is prepared to deal with any possible threat of another wave.
The review meeting mainly focused on the current situation of COVID, testing and prevention measures, upgradation and increasing Covid beds, training of people for Covid Management, procurement of medicines, home isolation and 1031 helpline, oxygen supply, and vaccination numbers.
All these points were discussed including genome sequencing, screening preparation of passengers landing at the IGI airport. Health Minister Satyendar Jain, Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot, Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Dev and all senior officers of every department involved including DCs were present at the review meeting.
The CM said: “As far as beds are concerned, the bed capacity in hospitals had been increased to 25,106 during the second wave of Corona in May 2021. We have now arranged for 30,000 oxygen beds already, out of which around 10,000 are ICU beds. Additionally, 6800 ICU beds are currently under construction, and will be ready by February 2022 which will bring the capacity of ICU beds to around 17,000 soon. Besides this, we have planned our preparations in such a way that we are able to arrange 100 oxygen beds in every municipal ward on a two-weeks notice. Hence, for the 270 wards, 27,000 oxygen beds can further be arranged on a short notice. This brings us to a total of 63,800 beds, which we have prepared or are in the process of being prepared with. All the manpower that will be needed for this is currently being trained.”
Medicine stocks being added, home isolation being strengthened, said Kejriwal.
He said: “There are 32 kinds of medicines which are required to treat Covid-19 patients. A two-month buffer stock of these medicines is being ordered in order to avoid running short on these in any manner. Home isolation arrangements are also being actively made so that in the off chance that a third wave of coronavirus does hit, or that the Omicron variant spreads in India, we are well prepared to protect ourselves from it.”
