Delhi’s iconic Taj Mansingh Hotel to turn into Covid facility

Order stated the hotel ‘will isolate and place all its rooms at the disposal of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for accommodating more number of COVID-19 patients’

NEW DELHI: In a major development with respect to increasing bed capacity for COVID-19 patients in Delhi, the Arvind Kejriwal-government here has ordered prominent 5-Star hotel Taj Mansingh to dedicate all of its 292 rooms, including 26 suites to caring for COVID-19 patients in the Capital, officials here said, adding that the hotel will be attached to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

The government order said the hotel “will isolate and place all its rooms at the disposal of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for accommodating more number of COVID-19 patients.”

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Deputy on Tuesday also visited The Suryaa New Delhi, a dedicated Covid facility that has been attached to the Holy Family Hospital. Following the inspection, the Chief Minister said The Suryaa New Delhi will become operational with 120 beds in the next 2-3 days. “The Suryaa will gradually be ramped up to 250-300 beds. Around 30-35 hotels will be requisitioned and around 3000-3500 beds will be added to the total bed capacity,” said Kejriwal.

Till now, a total of around 40 prominent hotels, including most of the city’s 4-Star and 5-Star hotels have been attached to various private hospitals to augment the Capital’s healthcare infrastructure.

According to an official of the Delhi government, the Taj Mansingh will be responsible for providing rooms and food and contactless room service to the patients. It will also be in charge of housekeeping duties. The hospital will be in charge of treatment and providing ambulance services and one hospital can have multiple hotels under it.

“The patients will pay the bill issued by the private hospital, which will then reimburse the outstanding amount to the concerned hotel,” said the official. The Delhi government has fixed the rates for treatment in these Covid facilities. Patients opting for the hotel facility (with mild to moderate Covid symptoms) will have to pay a minimum of Rs 63,000 a week if it’s a three or 4-Star hotel. If it’s a 5-Star hotel, the charges will go up to at least Rs 70,000 a week.

“An additional Rs 5,000 a day can be charged by 5-Star hotels for medical services (excluding oxygen) depending on the medical services required by the patient charges can increase,” the official added.

The staff in hotels will be given protective gear and basic training to avoid getting infected. If the hospital wants, its doctors and paramedical staff can stay in the hotel, but the hospital will have to bear the cost, said the official.