From Increasing Tests To Quarantine Facilities, Delhi And Central Government’s Joint Strategy To Fight COVID-19

New Delhi: The national capital, Delhi has recorded more than 41,000 coronavirus cases, out of which 24,000 cases remain active. While Delhi has seen 15,000 plus people recover from the virus, 1300 plus people have also lost their lives due to the lethal infection. To take stalk on the status of Delhi’s fight against COVID-19, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (June 14) held a review meeting with the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Delhi LG Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The meeting took several important decisions to ensure the safety of the citizens of Delhi against infection. After the meeting, the Home Minister shared on Twitter that a comprehensive health survey of every person would be conducted in the containment zones of Delhi to check the spread of coronavirus.

Also Read: India’s Coronavirus Cases On A Continuous Rise, Country Should Focus On Hotspots: AIIMS Chief

Mr Shah tweeted,

To be able to do contact mapping well in Delhi’s containment zones, a comprehensive health survey of every person will be done from house to house. The report will come in 1 week. Aarogya Setu app will be downloaded in every person’s mobile. Testing for the infection will be doubled in the next two days in the capital and triples in six days.

दिल्ली के कन्टेनमेंट जोन में Contact mapping अच्छे से हो पाए इसके लिए घर-घर जाकर हर एक व्यक्ति का व्यापक स्वास्थ्य सर्वे किया जायेगा, जिसकी रिपोर्ट 1 सप्ताह में आ जाएगी। साथ ही अच्छे से मोनिटरिंग हो इसके लिए वहां हर व्यक्ति के मोबाइल में आरोग्य सेतु एप डाउनलोड करवाई जाएगी।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 14, 2020

Furthermore, the Home Minister also announced a series of measures to tackle the pandemic in Delhi, including increasing of testing by three times in six days.

Also Read: Unlock 1: Guidelines For Religious Places To Prevent The Spread Of COVID-19

Mr Shah also addressed the scarcity of beds for coronavirus patients in Delhi hospitals, as he announced that the central government has decided to immediately provide 500 converted rail coaches to Delhi Government which will make 8,000 more beds available in Delhi. The beds will be equipped with facilities required for treatment of COVID-19 patients.

The Union Minister also said that a committee would be set up under the chairmanship of NITI Aayog member VK Paul, for 60 per cent beds in private hospitals at a lower rate for coronavirus patients in Delhi.

For the treatment of patients in private hospitals in the capital, a Committee has been formed under the leadership of Dr VK Paul to provide 60 per cent of the beds in these hospitals at a low rate, to fix treatment and COVID-19 testing which will submit its report by tomorrow, Mr Shah said in a statement,

Delhi is trying to set up as many beds as possible to handle the crisis and is converting many establishments into quarantine facility for the COVID-19 patients.

These establishments include the Radha Soami Satsang Beas premises in Chhattarpur, which is being converted into 10,000 beds facility for coronavirus patients.

Also Read: Is The Country In Community Transmission Stage? Experts Say ‘Not Yet’

Moreover, the Delhi government has also announced plans to add 20,000 beds across hotels, banquet halls and nursing homes. It said hotels will have 4000 beds, banquets halls 11,000 beds and nursing homes 5,000 beds.

On the other hand, to tackle misinformation and ensure COVID-19 guidelines are being followed in small hospitals in Delhi, the Central government has decided to constitute a committee of senior doctors for telephonic guidance in AIIMS. Those seeking information can simply call on the helpline number which will be released soon and talk to professionals and senior doctors.

The Home Minister has also said that the central government shall provide all necessary resources including oxygen cylinders, ventilators and pulse oximeters to help fight against COVID-19.