Agencies / NEW DELHI

UNION Home Minister Amit Shah today reviewed the prevailing COVID-19 situation in Delhi and medical infrastructure at a high level meeting in which he directed to increase the RT-PCR test in the National Capital by two fold. After holding the meeting, Mr Shah in a series of tweets said that mobile testing vans of the Ministry of Health and ICMR will be deployed where there is a high risk of COVID-19 infection by maximum use of the capacity of labs in Delhi.

He said, the capacity of hospitals and availability of other medical infrastructure in Delhi should be increased as well as 250 to 300 ICU beds will be added in DRDO COVID-19 Hospital located in Dhaula Kuan built in May this year so that treatment can be provided for serious Covid patients there. Mr Shah said, the 10 thousand -bed COVID Center in Chhatarpur will be further strengthened with an aim to increase the availability of beds with oxygen facilities. He said, some identified hospitals of MCD will be converted into dedicated hospitals for the treatment of mild Covid-19 patients.

Mr Shah also informed that dedicated multi-department teams will visit all private hospitals in Delhi for inspection of availability of COVID-19 medical infrastructure, admission of patients and displaying of status of availability of beds as per the earlier decision. He stressed on the need to review all previously established containment measures like marking of containment zones, contact tracing, quarantine and screening in Delhi.

He said, particularly those who are at high risk should be constantly monitored. The Union Home Minister said, additional doctors from CAPFs and paramedical staff will be airlifted to Delhi in view of shortage of healthcare workers. He said, emphasis should be given on keeping a track of patients who are in home isolation and if needed they should be immediately shifted to COVID hospitals in case of urgent medical facility so that more and more lives could be saved.

The Home Minister said, directions have been given for protocol to be made for plasma donation and transfusion in the case of serious COVID-19 patients. He said, a high-level committee headed by NITI Aayog member Dr V K Paul, Director General ICMR and Director AIIMS will submit a report on it soon. Mr Shah also informed that more oxygen cylinders, High Flow Nasal Cannula and other necessary equipment will be made available to the Delhi Government by the Central Government to save more and more people.

Mr Shah said, as safety is the only measure against corona so there should be a concrete communication strategy to make people aware about Coivid-19 behaviour as well as its negative impact on the medical and health standards.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and senior officials were present in the meeting