New Delhi, Sep 13 (UNI) Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Sunday said the Delhi Government has directed all the private hospitals having bed strength of 50 or more, to reserve at least 80 per cent of their total ICU bed strength for Covid-19 patients.
Addressing a press conference Mr Jain said,”around 4,321 people were found to be Covid-19 positive out of 60,000 tests conducted on September 12, making the test positivity ratio about 7.19 per cent in Delhi when compared to the national test positivity rate which is about 8.8 per cent.”
“Delhi recorded 28 deaths in the last 24 hours which brings down the mortality rate of the last ten days in Delhi to about 0.68 per cent when compared to the general average of 2.23 per cent,” he said.
Considering an increase in cases since the last few days, the Department of Health has ordered 33 hospitals to reserve 80 per cent of the total ICU beds available for Covid-19 patients. In a video conference with 33 private hospitals, Mr Jain had discussed reserving more beds in their ICUs.
“If in some hospitals non-Covid patients are already admitted, once discharged, the vacant beds will be reserved for Covid patients only,” he said.
He further reiterated that the hospitals in Delhi that are treating Covid-19 patients are allowed to increase their bed capacity up to 30 per cent which shall only be used to COVID-19 patients.
Mr Jain added that the order is relevant only for private hospitals and to ensure more bed capacity in their ICUs is available so that the demand for ICU beds for COVID-19 patients can be met.
The Cabinet minister said 14,372 beds are present in total out of which 7938 are still vacant and the current order is regarding ICU beds only in private hospitals and there are ample beds available in Government hospitals.
“ICU beds are facing a slight problem. Although there is a sufficient number of beds in hospitals, there is a shortage of ICU beds in easily approachable hospitals. Hospitals which are in high demand have been ordered to increase ICU beds. Right now ICU beds are available in central government and Delhi government hospitals,” he said.
Responding to a question, Mr Jain said “We want to make it clear that we are past the time of the lockdown. We have got a lot of experience after the lockdown. The most effective way to prevent corona infection is to wear masks. If you wear masks, you can avoid infection to a great extent. Also, it is necessary to adhere to social distancing.”
“In the last days, some people had stopped putting masks, and again a campaign was being planned and carried out. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal himself is making all citizens aware. Messages are also being given via FM and IVR etc. We are telling the Delhi residents through every means that if you are stepping out of house, you must wear masks,” he said.
“There is no separate data of people coming from outside, but those who are coming from outside are also being found infected. Now, in Delhi, all the transport is functioning, so there is no restriction for the people coming from outside now. Schools, colleges, cinema halls are now closed in Delhi. We hope that after 10 to 15 days, the cases will come down,” he said.
“There has been no case of reinfection in Delhi. It has happened that if you are infected with COVID and your test is negative in 10 to 12 days, you cannot infect others, but the virus can remain in your body. Many times, even after a month and a half, the test may have a positive result, but the scientific community has not claimed that it is reinfection. We have been advised that the more tests we conduct, the more it will help to stop Corona,” he said.
“If you are corona positive and you do not have symptoms, you can isolate yourself and you will not infect anyone. A large number of tests are being carried out. This is showing a surge in cases, but will greatly help in controlling the corona,” added Mr Jain.
