State government will add 8,000 beds, increase oxygen cylinders and Remdesivir supply

Bengaluru: As the number of Covid cases is increasing, on Friday, the state government announced that it was adding 8,000 beds in the city, increasing the availability of Remdesivir injections and ensuring that there is no shortage in supply of oxygen cylinders.

After a meeting by BS Yediyurappa, health minister K Sudhakar said, “Bengaluru has started reporting around 10,000 positive cases per day and there is a dire need to increase bed availability. Currently, there are around 3,000 beds for Covid-19 patients and we intend to increase it to 10,000-12,000 in the coming days.”

Urged centre for 5k oxygen cylinders

Yediyurappa said, “A final decision on how long, and to how many other districts we will extend the night curfew, will be decided on April 20.”

Of the other measures, corporate hospitals have been permitted to join with 10-15 star hotels and convert them into temporary Covid hospitals. Sudhakar said, “These hotels will be converted into step-down facilities where non-critical Covid patients (those with mild or no symptoms) can be monitored and treated by private hospitals. These step-down facilities will have around 3,000 beds.”

The government has also addressed the shortage of Remdesivir. Sudhakar said, “A tender has been floated to procure 84,000 units of Remdesivir and we will ensure that it is available in all hospitals.” When asked about the probability of the state facing a shortage in oxygen supply, he said, “We are not facing any shortage now as we have established sufficient oxygen plants to meet the demand. However, we have requested the Centre for 5,000 oxygen cylinders for the state.”

The other measures consist of tracking those under home isolation, stamping seals on those under quarantine and speeding up the testing process. The government has also increased the number of ambulances and hired 49 Shraddhanjali ambulances to transport the dead and to provide free cremation to those who died due to Covid-19.

Wedding, funeral norms

On Friday, an order was issued in which chief secretary P Ravi Kunar said only 100 persons are permitted to attend the wedding functions if it is held in closed areas. The number can be extended to 200 if it is an open area. As for birthday parties in closed spaces, 25 persons are allowed, whereas, the number can be extended to 50 if it is in open spaces.

For funerals, 25 persons are permitted if it is in closed spaces and the number can be extended to 50 if it is in open spaces. A maximum of 25 persons is allowed on burial grounds. Due to overcrowding, religious events have been prohibited. For political events, maximum of 200 persons can participate.