Delhi Is Using Five Weapons In The Fight Against COVID-19, Says Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: The national capital Delhi is the second-worst hit in the country by coronavirus after Maharashtra. With more than 83,000 confirmed cases as on June 29, Delhi has been facing a surge in COVID-19 cases every day. While addressing the media on Saturday (June 27), Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that in order to tackle the vast spreading COVID-19 in the capital, the authorities are using five weapons- increasing the number of beds, testing and isolation, pulse oximeters and oxygen concentrators, plasma therapy, and survey and screening.

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In order to increase the number of beds, the Delhi government has decided that all the big hospitals will reserve at least 40 per cent of their beds for COVID-19 patients. Various hotels and banquet halls have been also attached with hospitals to ramp up the number of beds. According to the Chief Minister, there are currently 13,500 beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients in the capital.

According to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Delhi, currently, 20,000 tests are being conducted every day which is a significant increase from only 5,000 tests per day in the month of May.

In order to monitor patients under home isolation, the health authorities are using a pulse oximeter and oxygen concentrators which help in monitoring oxygen levels frequently and alert the person if oxygen levels go below the safe levels, said Mr. Kejriwal. He added that the capital currently possesses 4,000 oxygen concentrators for COVID-19 patients.

While explaining about the fourth weapon- Plasma Therapy, CM Kejriwal claimed that the capital was the first place in the country to successfully implement the technique. He said,

Plasma therapy is being used by many now. This doesn’t work for patients who are on ventilators or who have multi-organ failure but helps those with moderate symptoms.

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Mr. Kejriwal has announced on Monday (June 29) that a ‘plasma bank’ will be established in the national capital to help treat COVID-19 patients. This announcement has been made considering the lack of availability of the life-saving plasma that COVID-19 patients are facing. The Chief Minister stated that the ‘plasma bank’ will be set-up at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in Delhi and anyone who needs plasma on the recommendation of the doctor will be helped via bank.

Delhi has also started a rigorous survey and screening drive to tackle the highly-contagious disease which is the fifth weapon of the capital. As per an official of the health department, the ongoing serological survey, which the Delhi government is conducting in association with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has already reached out to over 20,000 people in the capital within two days. The survey has been carried out in 11 districts, the official said, adding that the district has deployed 30 teams comprising ASHA workers and lab technicians for collecting samples.

Also Read: Door-To-Door Health Survey In Delhi To Be Completed By June 30: Ministry Of Home Affairs