Kolkata: Pvt hospitals asked to increase bed capacity

Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in West Bengal, the state health department has asked private hospitals across Kolkata to increase the number of COVID beds. Several private and government hospitals have witnessed a sharp increase in the number of COVID admissions in the past few days with the daily fresh cases spiking.

As per a report in the Times of India, West Bengal health secretary N S Nigam has advised the hospitals across Kolkata to be prepared to cater to COVID-19 patients and ensure that no patient is refused admission. Apart from COVID-19 beds, oxygen and other facilities will also be kept under check by the hospitals.

Kolkata witnessed more than 100 cases for the first time in two months last Saturday as the health care workers were left concerned by the rising cases. The AMRI hospital in Kolkata has added 55 COVID-dedicated beds amid the rise in cases.

“We have 55 Covid beds now and we are adding 12 ITU beds on Saturday. Occupancy is less than 50% but we are ready to add more. But given that a large number of Swasthya Sathi patients are taking up beds, we might not be able to accept all,” AMRI CEO Rupak Barua told Times of India.

As per Times of India, several private hospitals in Kolkata have also decided to defer the dates of the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for the patients. The option of seeking an extended slot has been offered to those who have been administered with the vaccine already. The recommended gap between the two doses of the coronavirus vaccine is 4-6 weeks. Times Now