Keeping in mind, the increasing cases of the Omicron variant, the Delhi government has suggested that in cases of emergency, the number of beds for treating infected patients would be increased from around 9,000 now to 37,000. Currently, only 2.3% of the ward beds and 1.4% of ICU beds reserved for treatment of Covid-19 patients are occupied. 

Among the total 37,000 beds, 19,225 beds would be in 15 of its hospitals, six hospitals of the municipal corporations and eight COVID Care Centres, additionally, 3,775 beds in central government hospitals and 14,000 beds in private hospitals would be used for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

After, a meeting on November 30, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that plans had been carved for health services such as beds, oxygen, medicines and vaccines to reach each ward and every city resident to tackle the increasing cases of the Omicron variant. 30,000 COVID beds were ready in Delhi, with 100 beds per ward would be arranged when required on a two-week notice taking the total bed capacity to over 64,000. Additionally, 6,800 ICU beds will also be ready soon.

2,200 beds, apart from 900 ICU beds would be available at Lok Nayak Hospital and a nearby COVID centre attached to it and the GTB Hospital in east Delhi would have 1,800 COVID beds, and 900 ICU beds.

Additional beds would be arranged in COVID Care Centres such as the Yamuna Sports Complex would have 5,000 ward beds and 200 ICU beds, the Commonwealth Games Village centre, which would have 1,040 COVID beds with 500 ICU beds and the Sant Nirankari Burari centre would have 1,000 beds with 500 ICU beds. The minister also added that the ICU beds would be increased to 10,594, if required, out of these, 5,150 ICU beds were in hospitals of the Delhi government, municipal corporations and COVID Care Centers. In all, 4,253 ICU beds would be to be made available in private hospitals and 1,191 ICU beds in the central government hospitals.

Source: ET Healthworld