Keeping a possible third wave of Covid-19 in mind, the State Government has readied at least 4,400 beds in various hospitals exclusively for the paediatric Covid care.
As many as 3,000 beds have already been created, out of that 674 are critical care beds. An additional 1,400 beds, of which 500 are ICUs, are under preparation.
Moreover, at least 15 per cent beds in the existing Covid Hospitals, 10 beds in DHHs/SDHs and two to four beds in CHCs have been reserved for children. Standalone paediatric Covid care units have been set up in all seven Government-run Medical Colleges Hospitals (MCHs). Private hospitals, nursing homes have also been roped in for bed support, sources said.The Shishu Bhawan in Cuttack has been declared as Centre of Excellence and Tele-Hub for Covid care with 40 general beds and 10 ICU beds.
While RT-PCR labs have been established in all districts, a decision has been taken to maintain the testing level at a rate of 70,000 per day in spite of a decline in the number of cases owing to the upcoming festive season and opening of schools.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is likely to inaugurate all new RT-PCR labs in 16 district headquarters shortly. PSA plants have been set up in all MCHs, all DHHs and high caseload Sub-Divisional Hospitals while LMO plants being set up in 16 districts would be commissioned soon.