Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that the Government will increase the number of testing in the national capital from 60,000 to 1 lakh or 1.25 lakh per day with the help of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
In the meeting convened by the Home Minister Amit Shah regarding increasing number of cases in Delhi, the Chief Minister asked for cooperation from the Central Government to tackle the pandemic. The Delhi chief minister has also asked the central government to immediately intervene in the matter of pollution and to instruct the neighbouring states to take serious steps to stop the stubble burning.
Kejriwal said, "It was also decided in the meeting that the number of tests in Delhi will increase from 60,000 per day to 1 lakh or 1.25 lakh. The Delhi government facilities are working at their highest capacity right now, therefore, the ICMR has assured that they will help us to increase the number of testing."
Talking to the media, Kejriwal said that the key problem which the government is facing is shortage of ICU (Intensive Care Unit) beds in Delhi. “After October 20 the number of Covid cases in Delhi is increasing at a very high rate. Right now we have sufficient number of Covid beds in Delhi but the scarcity is with the ICU beds," he said.
Earlier also when the Delhi government has sought support from the Centre, it has always responded positively and provided the state with beds, medical facilities and other support whenever required.
The Delhi Model was widely acknowledged by every agency and the better coordination amongst the various wings of the government that Delhi has managed to control the COVID19 cases
In the meeting the Delhi CM also followed up on Delhi Government’s request to increase the number of beds in the Central Government Hospitals.
Kejriwal said, "Today home Minister Amit Shah called an emergency meeting over the Covid pandemic situation in Delhi. After this meeting we have the assurance that all the government agencies of both the central government and the state government will work together to tackle the COVID-19 situation of Delhi. I want to thank Amit Shah ji for his cooperation."
Earlier this week Kejriwal wrote to the Union Health Minister requesting him to augment Covid-19 bed capacity in central government-run hospitals in the capital in view of the surge in cases.
“The Delhi government has given a very serious focus on the increasing number of Covid beds in various hospitals. Regarding this, the Delhi government also reached out to all the private hospitals to increase the number of Covid beds and to reserve 80 per cent of beds for Corona patients.
Last week the Delhi high court gave its nod to the Delhi government's decision of reserving 80 per cent of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in 33 private hospitals for Covid-19 patients for two weeks, lifting its legal hold after noting that the coronavirus outbreak was at alarming new levels in the national capital,” he said.
As on date, there are 16641 COVID 19 beds out of which the Delhi government hospitals have 5451, the Centre has 3721 and the remaining are private hospitals.