Kejriwal: We Need 1.5 Lakh Beds By July 31 - City Scrambles For Beds, Infra To Battle Covid

Delhi govt eyes more hotels, banquet halls, auditoriums, stadiums & rail coaches to tackle patient surge but experts say dearth of docs & equipment may trigger another crisis

- Gulam Jeelani and Pankaj Jain

Addressing his first online press briefing after being tested negative for the novel coronavirus, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday that going by the present rate of infections, Delhi would need 1,50,000 beds by July 31 for Covid-19 patients.

The statement came a day after his deputy, Manish Sisodia, projected 5,50,000 lakh cases in the city by July 31.

“We do not know how many might come from outside but at any given time before the pandemic, nearly 50% of patients in Delhi hospitals used to come from elsewhere. This means, by July 31, we will need around 1.5 lakh beds, Kejriwal said, adding outsider patients to the need of 80,000 beds projected by Sisodia.

This comes amid a row over the AAP government’s decision, now overruled by Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal, to reserve beds in all Delhi hospitals, except those run by the Centre, only for residents.

With 32,810 cases and 984 deaths, Delhi is the worst-affected state in the country, after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. In fact, with 19,581 active patients undergoing treatment, the Capital is next only to Maharashtra where 44,859 people were in hospitals as on Wednesday.

Worse, the Delhi government has warned that in at least half of the cases so far, the source of infection was unknown — a hint towards community transmission but it has to be announced by the Centre.

RISING CURVE