Kejriwal flags shortage of beds, oxygen, anti-viral drugs with Centre

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal here on Saturday said that he has requested the Centre to create more Covid beds and increase the supply of oxygen and anti-viral drugs remdesivir and tocilizumab due to their shortage in the national capital which recorded nearly 24,000 more cases of Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours.

“There are limited Covid oxygen and ICU beds in Delhi and they are filling up fast due to rapid rise in the coronavirus infection,” Mr Kejriwal said while addressing a virtual press conference in the evening.

The chief minister said he had telephoned Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan in the morning and requested him to increase the supply of oxygen and drugs and reserve at least 50 per cent of the total 10,000 beds in hospitals of Delhi for Covid patients.

Mr Kejiwal said nearly 6,000 beds will be created in the next two to three days by the Delhi government but more will be required.

“In Yamuna sports and commonwealth games complex nearly 1,300 beds are being set up while over 2,500 are erected in Radhaswami complex and around 2,100 created by attaching beds of hotels and banquet hall with the hospitals,” he said.

Over the reports of black marketing of the anti-viral drugs, the chief minister said he had a meeting with the officials and asked them to conduct raids and take stringent action.

Mr Kejriwal said it also been reported that there is a significant delay in giving reports of RT/PCR tests by several laboratories.

“In Delhi, test results used to come within 24 hours. But now, at several places, it is taking more than two-three days. The reason is several laboratories are taking samples beyond their testing capacity. Such practise should be immediately stopped,” he warned.

He said there is no need to panic as the government still has sufficient infrastructure and resources to deal with the current situation.