Different ball game: CWG Village to house Covid patients from Monday

NEW DELHI: Commonwealth Games Village, constructed as a living area for athletes participating in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, is likely to start admitting Covid-19 patients from Monday. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy CM Manish Sisodia visited the complex on Wednesday to take stock of the preparations being undertaken to convert it into a Covid care centre in order to take pressure off the existing Covid facilities.

“The 480-bedded Covid care centre at the Commonwealth Games Village will be attached to Lok Nayak Hospital,” Kejriwal said after visiting the facility. “Separate wards have been put up for men, women, and there are stay-in facilities for doctors and nurses at the centre.”

Kejriwal also announced that the plasma bank set up at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in south Delhi will be inaugurated on Thursday. The plasma bank, it is hoped, will ease access to blood plasma needed for the treatment of Covid patients.

The CM said that compared with last month, the number of cases in Delhi was now decreasing and the situation appeared to be getting under control. “I hope and pray that the Covid facilities created and the beds installed across the capital are not required. But even if they are, we are not lacking in our efforts. If there is a spike in Covid-19 cases, we are ready to deal with it,” Kejriwal said, adding that many banquet halls are also being requisitioned to create temporary Covid care centres.

After Delhi Development Authority, which owns the Commonwealth Games Village, handed over the sports complex to the East district administration, the work to install medical care infrastructure is in full swing. The badminton and tennis courts have been converted into hospital wards.

Arun Kumar Mishra, district magistrate (East), said that the Covid centre development began immediately on the district administration getting the complex. “Covid patients will be shifted to this facility from Monday. Most things are ready, and the facility is getting some final touches. It has been created in record time,” said Mishra. The doctors and paramedical staff will be provided by Doctors for You, an NGO.

“This Covid centre will accommodate non-critical patients only,” explained a government official. “Around 70% of the beds will be connected with oxygen supply, but there will be no ICU or ventilator facility. The patients will be monitored and those developing critical symptoms will be sent to the dedicated government hospitals for management.”

Dr Rajat Jain of Doctors for You added, “One ambulance will be kept ready for every 100 patients. There will be additional transport facilities. The deployment of doctors will be on need basis.” He said the medical care centre would begin operations in a phased manner, initially with 100-150 beds. When 70% of these were occupied, another 150 beds would be readied.

The government official also said, “A green area has been made for doctors and healthcare staff to stay in. The helipad located on the premises has been converted into the kitchen area so that patients can be provided proper food. Separate toilet blocks have been created, with one toilet for every six persons.”