More beds for city patients

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 13

As the city grapples with a sudden spurt in Covid-19 cases, dedicated Covid-19 hospitals have been told to increase the intake capacity for local patients.

During a review meeting, UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore said additional facilities for 100 beds each exclusively for UT Covid-19 patients should be created both at the PGI and GMCH-32.

The PGI and the GMCH have earmarked 200 and 100 beds, respectively, for patients suffering from Covid-19.

Dr Jagat Ram, Director, PGI, said they had 149 patients at the Covid care centre. Of them, 57 belong to Chandigarh, 54 to Punjab, 16 to Haryana, 11 to Himachal Pradesh and the remaining patients to other states.

Dr G Dewan, Director Health Services, stated that they had conducted 1,736 tests so far through rapid-antigen method.

UT Adviser Manoj Parida stated that 600 beds were available at Hostel Nos. 8, 9 and 10 of Panjab University for taking care of mild and asymptomatic Covid-19 patients.

“Facilities at James Hotel have been requisitioned where Covid-19 patients, who can afford to pay charges, can stay and avail of the Covid care centre facilities on a payment basis,” he said, adding that Eden Hospital was also available for the treatment of infected persons in the UT.

The UT Administrator said an interaction meeting would be held with councillors through video-conferencing on Tuesday to seek their views regarding Covid management in the city. MP Kirron Kher would also be invited to participate in the video-conference.

“In view of the rising Covid cases in Chandigarh, the city needs better attention and care by the Centre. Twenty ventilators with the PGI are just not enough. It should be given more ventilators immediately,” tweeted former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.