Bengaluru to get 10,000 bed COVID care facilities by Monday evening: Karnataka Minister
Bengaluru: Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, Karnataka Medical Education Minister S Sudhakar on Saturday said arrangements will be made to have 10,000 beds in government and private hospitals by Monday evening and multistorey residential apartment complexes will also be used to treat infected patients.
"By Monday evening, we will have definite information about the number of beds available in the government and private hospitals.
Efforts are afoot to arrange 10,000 beds to treat coronavirus patients by Monday evening," Sudhakar said in a statement on Saturday after video conferencing with the health department officials.
Apart from government and private hospitals, buildings belonging to the Bengaluru Development Authority, housing board, apartments constructed by the private builders, government and private sports facilities, playgrounds, hostels, and major commercial buildings will be utilized to treat coronavirus patients, the minister said.
"Since COVID care centers do not require much facilities, the multistorey residential apartment complexes built by BDA and housing department will be utilized.
BDA has around 1700 flats. BDA commissioner Mahadev will inform the exact number of flats available for use on Monday," Sudhakar explained.
Based on the facilities available, these will be converted to either COVID care centers or hospitals, Sudhakar said.
He underlined that for the past one week about 30 to 35 percent of the infected cases are showing symptoms.
It has been instructed to experts to classify the symptomatic cases as mild, moderate, and severe and prepare treatment protocols, he said, adding that private hospitals have been instructed to reserve 50 percent of the beds for COVID treatment.
Discussions will be held with the management of private hospitals and they will be provided details of capping of the treatment cost.
The possibility of utilizing almost entire capacity in private medical colleges is being examined, Sudhakar said.
The minister explained that all necessary arrangements in the identified facilities will be made with the help of the private sector.
Karnataka State Reserved Police, Home Guards, NCC cadets, and para-military forces stationed in the city will be utilized for security arrangements, the minister said.
Senior officials including Additional Chief Secretary Javed Akhtar, BDA commissioner Dr. M Mahadev, and Medical Education Secretary T K Anil Kumar were present during the meeting.
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Attacks on Christians contradict PM's message of harmony, visit to church: Gehlot
Jaipur (PTI): Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday expressed concern over the reported attacks and disruptions in prayer gatherings of the Christian community in different parts of the country, saying such incidents were "worrying and condemnable".
In a post on X, Gehlot said that while the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was visiting a church and giving a message of peace and harmony, news of attacks on members of the Christian community from various regions reflected a serious contradiction.
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"Symbolic gestures would not be enough, and strict legal action was required against those spreading hatred," the senior Congress leader said.
He added that Indian culture has always upheld the spirit of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", where every citizen has full freedom to practise their faith.
Gehlot urged the Centre and state governments to uphold the rule of law and ensure that no citizen is forced to celebrate their festival under fear.
