Amid a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases in the capital, Delhi Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal is likely to meet with Union Interior Minister Amit Shah next week to request additional beds for Covid-19 patients in the hospitals managed by the Center in Delhi. In addition to more beds, Kejriwal may request more assistance, including cooperation from other states to control pollution, which is causing an increase in coronavirus cases during the holiday season, sources told PTI.
During the first wave of Covid-19 in Delhi in June-July, the Union Interior Minister Amit Shah had intervened and was credited with a combined center-state approach to mitigate the situation.
Since the last week of October, Delhi has seen a sudden increase in the number of daily infections. The death toll in one day also topped 100 on November 13. After Diwali, daily infections can rise to 15,000, as has been projected. In view of the projected number, the AAP-led government of Delhi had previously requested the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan to increase the capacity of beds in those hospitals.
In a letter to Vardhan last week, Kejriwal had cited a shortfall of around 4,900 hospital beds and asked central government-run hospitals in Delhi for their address to provide at least 1,092 additional beds, including 300 ICU beds, with the necessary medical services. personal.
Kejriwal said on Friday that the COVID-19 situation in the national capital should be under control in seven to 10 days.
“Covid-19 cases have increased in recent days. It also worries me. We have been taking all necessary measures to control it. We are considering taking more action next week. I think the situation should be under control in seven to 10 days and the cases should start to decrease, ”he had said.
The Delhi High Court has recently criticized the AAP government for relaxing restrictions. Noting that the government is doing its best to “unlock things,” the high court allowed it to reserve 80 percent of beds in private hospital intensive care units for Covid-19 patients.
(With PTI inputs)
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