No lockdown, Delhi govt says ready with Covid infrastructure

NEW DELHI: Amid rising concerns due to several Omicron cases being detected in the country, Delhi government has intensified preparations to tackle any escalation in the situation.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said there was no need to panic because the government was working to ensure that adequate oxygen, beds, equipment and medicines were available. He is personally monitoring the situation.

Delhi government has rejected the possibility of a lockdown. Health minister Satyendar Jain said the graded response action plan would be implemented if cases rise. This plan is a colour-coded detailed guide on imposing economic restrictions, which will start when the daily positivity rate crosses 0.5% and remains above it for two consecutive days. On Sunday, the positivity rate was 0.11%.

“The Omicron variant has entered India. We are constantly receiving news regarding patients across the country and even in Delhi. However, there is no need to panic or lose sleep over it. I’m constantly monitoring the situation and the progress being made to deal with the possible threat of the spread of the virus,” said Kejriwal, while appealing to people to continue to follow Covid protocols.

About 30,000 Covid beds are ready in Delhi and 100 beds per ward would be arranged when required on a two-week notice, which would take the total bed capacity to over 64,000. Soon, 6,800 ICU beds would also be ready.

“Medicine stocks are currently being added and home isolation arrangements are being strengthened. Oxygen supply and storage is being bolstered. There are extra storage facilities of 442 metric tonnes and production capacity of 121 MT. Telemetry devices to provide real-time tracking are being installed in all oxygen facilities. Around 6,000 oxygen cylinders have been imported and 15 tankers bought to prevent shortage,” the government mentioned in a statement.

People can call on the Covid helpline number, 1031, to get help for patients. To curb manpower shortage, 15,370 healthcare workers, including 4,673 doctors, 1,707 medical students, 6,265 nurses and 2,726 paramedics, have been trained in oxygen therapy and paediatric ward management. Around 5,000 health assistants have been given basic training in nursing, paramedics, home care, blood pressure measurement, vaccination, etc.

A committee constituted by Delhi government has identified 32 medicines and it has been mandated to maintain a buffer stock for 60 days. In addition, a buffer stock of 30 days would be kept for eight drugs identified by the Centre. The process of procurement of equipment for which demand may rise has been started.

Jain said Delhi government was testing all people coming from the countries affected by the Omicron variant. So far, 27 people have been admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital out of which 17 are positive and only one person confirmed to be infected.