From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Apr 16: As many as 1,800 beds will be made available for Covid treatment in KIMS and BMCRI, said health and medical education minister Dr K Sudhakar in Bengaluru on Friday.
Speaking to the media here after inspecting BMCRI, KIMS and St John’s Medical College hospitals, he said 400 beds were provided to Covid patients in Victoria hospital so far. It will be increased to 750 now.
Nearby hotels will be made quarantine centres and 200 beds will be available there for Covid patients. Totally 950 beds will be managed by BMCRI and another 70 ICU beds are available here. We are trying to provide 50 to 100 more ICU beds within 15 days, said the minister.
KIMS will reserve 500 beds within 2-3 weeks, private medical colleges are arranging 5000 beds shortly he said.
Chief minister B S Yediyurappa’s health is stable, he said pointing out Yediyurappa has already taken the vaccination.
Dr Sudhakar said the chief minister will be providing guidance from the hospital itself through video conference.
"We will act accordingly to control the wave he added. We will discuss the proposal of considering media persons as frontline workers and give priority to get the vaccine,’’ he said.
The health minister, who participated in the meeting presided over by Yediyurappa in the morning at the chief minister’s official residence, said: "I am also a corona warrior and discharging my responsibility like Doctors, D Group workers and para medicos are doing.’’
Dr Sudhakar held a quick meeting with the administration of St John’s hospital and instructed them to make alternative arrangements in the nearby hotel for mild symptomatic patients.
"Mortality rate is comparatively less in the state during the second wave than in the first one last year. It is necessary to take certain strict measures and proper treatment protocols to contain the second wave. We need to prevent the third wave by getting vaccinated,’’ he said.
The minister said 6,000 beds are available in Bengaluru including hospitals and Covid Care Centres, of which 3,869 have been occupied. A total of 2,131 are still available for the patients. The number will be increased further in the coming days, he added.