With the surge in the Covid-19 pandemic continuing, hospitals are finding it difficult to cope with patients, especially those needing the life-saving oxygen. The Capital had reported 92,358 active cases till yesterday.
The Sardar Patel Covid Care Centre and Hospital under the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) had admitted 149 Covid-19 patients till yesterday evening. Most of those admitted require uninterrupted oxygen. In view of this, the ITPB in statements said: “Delhi government has been requested to increase oxygen supply so that admissions are increased. There is a huge influx of patients demanding admission but our capacity is limited by the supply of oxygen. Efforts are on to gradually increase the capacity of the centre.”
In fact on Monday itself 123 patients had been admitted.
Located in Chhattapur, the Ministry of Home Affairs had last week designated the border police force as the nodal agency for operations of the Sardar Patel Covid Care Centre, a facility with 500 oxygenated beds. It may be recalled that last year too this Centre was in operation during the first wave of the pandemic and was closed down after the cases were brought under control.
The ITBP Director-General had informed on Sunday that walk-in admission to the Centre will not be allowed.
Speaking to ANI he said: “Only patients referred by District Surveillance Officers (DSO) will be admitted. We have high-pressure oxygen, ventilators and enough stock of medicines.”
CM, Deputy CM and Health Minister visit the Centre
On Monday the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain had visited the ITBP-run facility. The Centre was operational from Monday morning onwards.
During his visit, the CM had announced that the capacity of the Centre will be increased to 5,000 beds in the coming days.
Addressing a virtual press conference, Kejriwal had said, "There are 150 beds as of now, in the next two to three days this will be pushed to 500 beds then 2000 beds and finally 5000 beds. We are also creating a 200 ICU bed facility at the Centre. We are creating several such centres in Delhi and hope they aid the people of Delhi."
In his tweet he had thanked the Central Government for providing the doctors and the medical staff of ITBP.