High risk of third Covid wave, preparing on war footing: CM
NEW DELHI: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the chances of a third wave of Covid-19 (the fifth for Delhi) are “quite real” and assured that the Delhi government is preparing to combat it on a “war-footing”, as he inaugurated 22 oxygen pressure swing absorption (PSA) plants in nine state government-run hospitals.
“We are now at the risk of the third wave of Covid-19 and are receiving indications that the United Kingdom has already started experiencing the third wave. Covid-19 cases are rising rapidly, even though 45% of the people are already vaccinated there. However, initial indications suggest that the intensity is lower this time... Delhi government is committed to preparing with full conviction,” Kejriwal said in a digital address during the inauguration of the oxygen plants.
These 22 small-sized oxygen plants can, in total, produce 17.3 metric tonnes (MT) of medical oxygen, while 17 more plants will be commissioned by July.
The Delhi government plans to set up 57 oxygen generation plants with a total capacity of 64MT, which will generate 35,000 litres of oxygen per minute, data seen by HT showed.
“Usually, Delhi needs a lesser share of oxygen for its hospitals, which is obtained from other states. But during the fourth wave, the demand increased manifold. Delhi needs 150-200 MT of medical oxygen for noncovid purposes, apart from industrial purposes. This demand rose to 700 MT during the fourth wave,” Kejriwal said.
In addition to oxygen plants and at least 6,000 oxygen cylinders, the government has also set up three storage plants of 57 MT each, and arranged oxygen tanks of 13.5 MT each.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra, chairperson of HCL Technologies, said the firm is contributing 21 ready-to-install oxygen plants imported from France. “Seventeen of these have been installed across seven hospitals in Delhi. The other four have arrived and will be installed in the next few days,” she said.
Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said of the 22 PSA plants, 17 have been given by HCL, and the remaining five by Maruti Udyog.
“HCL will be supplying four more plants, which will arrive soon. Similarly, five such plants have already been installed in hospitals like Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Satyawadi Raja Harishchandra, Ambedkar Nagar hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, and Burari Hospital. These plants have already been commissioned,” Jain said.