In the wake of surge in coronavirus cases in the national Capital, the AAP Government braced itself for the occasion and on Thursday it announced several measures, including a steep Rs 2,000 fine for not wearing masks, reservation of 80 per cent ICU beds in private hospitals, doubling testing centres in every district and postponement of non-critical surgeries at health facilities.
In the all-party meeting held on Thursday, all political parties have agreed to collectively serve the people of Delhi keeping their political differences aside, said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Private hospitals have also been directed to increase the percentage of non-ICU Covid-19 beds from 50 per cent to 60 per cent. The Government will increase the number of RT-PCR test to 27,000 a day in Delhi and MBBS students and interns will be engaged to tackle the Covid-19 situation.
Addressing an online media briefing, Kejriwal said the fine for not wearing masks has been raised from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000. The hard line by the AAP Government comes days after Kejriwal repeatedly appealed to Delhiites to wear masks amid a surge in coronavirus cases.
He announced the slew of measures after meeting Lt-Governor Anil Baijal and apprising him of the decisions taken by the AAP Government. He also appealed to political , social and religious organisations to distribute masks among people saying masks very much reduce the chances of coronavirus infection.
Arrangements are being made for over 1,400 ICU beds, including 663 in Delhi Government hospitals and 750 at a Central Government facility, Kejriwal said, adding 7,500 normal and 446 ICU beds are currently available for Covid-19 patients in Delhi.
“From today we have implemented the decision to reserve 80 per cent ICU beds in all private hospitals for Covid-19 patients. It will increase ICU bed availability by 300-400 for coronavirus patients in Delhi hospitals,” he said.
The percentage of normal, non-ICU beds reserved in private hospitals for corona patients, are being increased from 50 per cent to 60 per cent till the peak of the pandemic is there, he said..