New Delhi: Municipal corporation ready to provide 8,000 beds

With Covid-19 cases rapidly rising in Delhi, North Delhi Municipal Corporation has offered to provide 8,000 beds for Covid patients at its various institutions.

During a virtual meeting between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the three municipal corporations’ mayors and commissioners on Monday, it was decided that the Delhi government and the municipal corporations would work together to tackle Covid-19. The Delhi government asked the corporations to provide beds for Covid patients.

North Delhi Municipal Corporation Mayor Jai Prakash said if the Delhi government provides oxygen supply, all the polyclinics in its jurisdiction can be developed into mini-hospitals in residential areas. Between 2,000 and 2,500 beds can be arranged in 17 polyclinics which will be linked to major hospitals for emergency cases, he said.

Prakash also stated that 6,800 beds can be developed in the 71 schools in the area if four beds are put in a room. Another 700 beds can be accommodated in the 12 big community centres in the region.

The mayor said permission to create a Covid care centre at Balak Ram Hospital has also been requested from the Delhi government and Delhi Disaster Management Authority. A hundred beds can be arranged at the centre.

During the six-day lockdown in Delhi, Prakash said the North Delhi Municipal Corporation will carry out sanitation work at various places and put out signs about social distancing and vaccination in public places.

On Monday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a six-day citywide lockdown until April 26. Delhi reported 23,686 fresh Covid-19 cases and 240 deaths in 24 hours on Monday. There are more than 76,000 active cases in the city at present. India Today