Centre to provide 500 railway coaches to Delhi for COVID-19 treatment in view of shortage of beds: Amit Shah

After the meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan over the COVID-19 situation in the national capital on Sunday, Home Minister Amit Shah charted out measures to help Delhi contain the spread of the deadly virus.

Shah stated that the Centre will provide 500 railway coaches to Delhi in view of the shortage of beds for COVID-19 patients.

"In view of shortage of beds for coronavirus infected patients in Delhi, the Modi government at the Center has decided to immediately give 500 railway coaches to Delhi," Shah said.

He further stated that testing for coronavirus will e doubled in the next two days and after 6 days the testing will be increased to three times.

Meanwhile, he said that in order to establish a strong contact mapping system in Delhi's containment zone, a comprehensive health survey of every person will be done from house to house, whose report will have to be submitted in a week. To further strengthen the monitoring of the deadly virus, the Arogya Setu app will be downloaded in every person's mobile in these zones.

Shah also said that testing will be started at every polling station in these containment zones.

Moreover, in order to provide reliable information and guidelines for COVID-19 to hospitals of smaller stature in Delhi, Centre has decided to constitute a committee of senior doctors for telephonic guidance in AIIMS, Shah said. 

The helpline number for these hospitals will be released tomorrow.  

For the treatment of coronavirus infections in private hospitals of Delhi, Shah informed that a committee has been formed to provide 60% of the beds set aside for COVID-19 patients at a low rate, and also fix the rates for coronavirus treatment and testing. The committee will submit the report tomorrow.

Further, he said that the Centre has fully assured the Delhi government to meet the necessary resources like oxygen cylinders, ventilators, pulse oximeters and all other requirements to fight this pandemic. 

According to the Delhi government, by July 15, the number of coronavirus patients in Delhi can be more than 2.25 lakhs. By July 31, COVID-19 cases is expected to reach 5.50 lakh.

As of now, the number of COVID-19 cases in the national capital are 38958, with 14945 recoveries and 1271 deaths.