New Delhi: HC wants COVID beds, Delhi requisitions 100 rooms at Ashoka

Delhiites may be scrambling for beds and oxygen amid the deadly surge of Covid cases, but judges and officials of the Delhi High Court won’t have to, with 100 rooms being reserved for them in the Ashoka Hotel.

The move comes after a “request” was received from the Delhi High Court “for
setting up of CHC facility for the Hon’ble Justices and other judicial officers of Delhi High Court and their families”.

So, the Delhi government decided to requisition 100 rooms at the hotel to set up a Covid Health Centre for judges and judicial officers of the Delhi HC and their families.

Invoking the powers under the Disaster Management Act 2005 and the Delhi Epidemic Diseases COVID19 Regulations 2020, the Chanakyapuri Sub-Divisional Magistrate office Monday issued the relevant orders Sunday. The rooms will be attached to Primus Hospital, a private hospital in Chanakyapuri.

The order, a copy of which was accessed by ThePrint, reads: “…in exercise of powers conferred under Acts/Regulations mentioned above, and in overall imminent public interest, do hereby require the 100 rooms of Ashoka Hotel, New Delhi for setting up of COVID health facility for the use of Hon’ble Justices and other Judicial officers of Delhi High Court and their families and place at the disposal of Primus Hospital, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, with immediate effect…”

A Covid Health Centre is a level II facility that has assured oxygen beds. It also needs to have a “dedicated Basic Life Support Ambulance equipped with sufficient oxygen support for ensuring safe transport of a case to a Dedicated COVID Hospital if the symptoms progress from moderate to severe.”

The decision was taken in response to a request by the high court.

Hotel staff to get protective gear
The SDM’s order specifies that the hotel staff will get protective gear to cater to these 100 rooms and will also be provided with basic training.

Primus Hospital will provide the ambulance for transfer facility and waste disposal will also be the hospital’s responsibility. If the hotel is short on staff, the hospital will have to provide additional staff as well.

“All the services including rooms, housekeeping, disinfection and food for the patients et cetera shall be provided by hotel. The charges shall be collected by hospital and the hospital shall make the payment to the hotel. The Primus Hospital may accommodate the doctors nurses and other paramedical staff at their own expenses after deciding the rates mutually,” the order, signed by SDM Geeta Grover, notes.

Delhi is currently witnessing a devastating Covid surge and there is a critical shortage of beds and oxygen in the city.

According to the Delhi government’s Covid bulletin, as of Sunday, only 1,579 beds from a total of 20,333 beds were vacant. Furthermore, of the 196 beds in Covid-dedicated health centres, only 56 were vacant. The Print