Bengaluru : The COVID Care Center at the Bengaluru International Exhibition Center here, which was touted as the largest facility of its kind for treating asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients in the country, will be closed as of September 15, as it does not receive patients.
In an order dated September 4, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the city’s civic body, said the decision to close the facility with a potential capacity of more than 10,000 beds was made at a meeting chaired by the Minister Principal with the advice of the head of the Covid Care Care Task Force.
It has been decided to deliver the furniture brought for the center, such as beds, mattresses, pedestal fans, garbage cans, water dispensers, among others, to government shelters and hospitals at no cost.
The Department of Social Welfare will receive 2,500 pieces of furniture for their shelters, while the University Horticulture Hostel in Bagalkote, the Shelter of the Department of Minority Welfare and the GKVK, Bengaluru will receive 1,000 each.
The remaining furniture will be delivered to government hospitals and shelters as requested, he added.
Following the government’s decision to allow home isolation for asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic COVID cases, there has been a drastic drop in people entering the center, official sources said.
Previously, the center also had its share of controversy.
Following widespread criticism and allegations of corruption against his decision to rent the beds and furniture needed for the center at a higher cost, the government subsequently decided to buy it.
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