Positivity rate 30%, 25,500 K Covid cases in 24 hours: Kejriwal
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said the Central government hospitals have around 10,000 beds in Delhi out of which 1,800 are COVID beds, and he has appealed to the Centre to reserve at least 7,000 beds for COVID patients.
He said that he spoke to Home Minister Amit Shah earlier in the day, informing him of the dire need of beds and oxygen in Delhi.
Kejriwal said that he had also informed Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan of the same yesterday. The Chief Minister said that apart from the Commonwealth Games Complex, Yamuna Sports Complex, Radha Soami Satsang Beas, beds are being set up in some Delhi schools. He added that within 2-3 days, the Delhi government will set up more than 6,000 oxygen beds and will arrange more high flow oxygen beds in the city.
Kejriwal said: “In the last 24 hours, approximately 25,500 cases of COVID have come up. Before that, we had around 24,000 cases, and before that, we had 19,500 cases. Currently, the cases are increasing rapidly. Another concern is that in the last 24 hours, the positivity rate has increased to 30%. This is despite the fact that it was around 24% the day before.”
Kejriwal said: “If we take a look at the situation in Delhi, we have noted that the number of available beds reserved for COVID is reducing at a fast rate. A large number of patients are being admitted to hospitals and we are falling short of ICU beds. In Delhi, we are now left with less than 100 ICU beds. We are falling short of oxygen as well. Last night, a private hospital told us that the shortage was so severe that they just about managed to prevent a tragedy. We have been in touch with the Centre, and have asked for aid, which we are getting; and for that, we’d like to thank them.”
Kejriwal said: “Last evening, I spoke to Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and informed him of our desperate need for beds and oxygen. This morning, I spoke to Shah and informed him that we need additional beds. In Delhi, the Centre has around 10,000 beds in its hospitals of which 1,800 have been reserved for COVID. In such a grave situation, I request the Central Government to reserve at least 7,000 beds for COVID. The situation is getting worse each day, and it’s crucial that at least 7,000 beds are reserved in the Centre’s hospitals. We also need an immediate supply of oxygen.”
Kejriwal also said: “The Delhi government will be able to create more than 6,000 oxygen beds in the next 2-3 days. As I have said, we are short of ICU beds. There is a limit under which we can increase the number of ICU beds as it is. It has been noted that maximum patients require high flow oxygen. Hence, we are trying to provide high flow oxygen in hospitals so that more such beds can be set up. In the next few days, we will provide for an additional 6,000 beds in Yamuna Sports Complex and Commonwealth Games Complex. Radha Soami Satsang Beas Centre will be reopened. Beds are also being set up in many schools that are being attached to hospitals.”
Kejriwal said: “Citizens are cooperating with us and following the curfew. I would like to thank the people of Delhi from the bottom of my heart for coming together to battle this pandemic. Several organisations have come forward to provide us with aid — NGOs, private doctors, religious organisations, social organizations are all helping us. I would like to thank all of them and the Centre too. I hope that we will be able to overcome this fourth wave as well.”
