Cases cross 1K for second day in Delhi, beds increased

NEW DELHI: As Delhi reported more than 1,000 new Covid-19 cases for the second consecutive day, the state government on Friday ordered setting up of at least 3,350 new beds, including paid hospital and quarantine facilities in hotels, in a bid to deal with the surging number of coronavirus infections in the city.

On Friday, 1,106 new cases of Covid-19 were added to the city’s tally, taking the total number of cases to 17,386. On Thursday, Delhi had crossed the key threshold of 1,000 cases on a single day for the first time, reporting 1,024 positive infections.

However, with the addition of 1,106 cases to Delhi’s tally of 16,281 from Thursday, Friday’s cases should have stood at 17,387. There was no immediate clarification from the government on the discrepancy on Friday.

For the first time, the government notified five hotels to be fully used as “extended Covid hospitals” for patients with mild symptoms such as a respiratory rate of 15 to 30 (normal is 12-20 breaths per minute) and oxygen saturation of 90-94% (normal is 95 -100%). A total of 1,000 beds are being readied in these paid facilities. Two Delhi government hospitals with 200 beds each were also converted into dedicated Covid hospitals, adding 400 beds, in a second order. The two hospitals are Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital in Ashok Vihar-iv, Wazirpur and Satyawadi Raja Harish Chandra Hospital in Narela. Treatment here will be free, like other government facilities.

The government, in a third order, earmarked 500 beds at GTB hospital for Covid patients. Officials said 1,000 more beds as previously announced by CCM Arvind Kejriwal will be opened in the facility at a later stage.

In a fourth order, the government set aside 1,870 rooms in 10 plush hotels as paid quarantine facilities for those with mild symptoms such as fever and upper respiratory tract infection, who do not want to isolate themselves at home. The hotels include JW Marriot, Le Meridien and IBIS. Two of the 10 hotels— Hotel Sheraton in Saket and Hotel Surya in New Friends Colony —will also serve as extended Covid hospitals. The prices range from ₹3,100 plus taxes to ₹4,800 plus taxes per night, including three meals, depending on the hotel and room.

The government had earlier, though, offered paid quarantines facilities at a few Aerocity hotels in the initial days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a digital press conference on Friday, Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said the government was “fully geared up” to handle more than 1,000 cases a day. “We have more than 5,000 beds for coronavirus treatment in Delhi. Out of this, 1,400 beds are in private hospitals and 3,700 in government hospitals. The number of patients currently on ventilator is 28. We have more than 300 dedicated ventilators available currently in Delhi. Our aim is to double the number of beds soon against the number of patients right now,” the minister said.

The hotel-hospital facilities, ranging from 5-star to 3-star, have been attached to five private hospitals that will have to provide all medical services and treat patients there. In case the condition of any Covid patient admitted in these hotel-hospitals turns severe, he or she will have to be transferred to the attached hospital, the order stated.

Covid patients opting for the hotel facility will have to pay a minimum of ₹63,000 for a 3-4 star hotel for a week’s stay, which is the period mandated for patients with mild symptoms.