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I request all three MCDs to provide more beds, we are ready to provide things which will be needed- CM Arvind Kejriwal
India
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New Delhi, April 18, 2021 :
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a meeting over video conferencing at the Delhi Secretariat with the three commissioners of the municipal corporations of Delhi and the mayors to discuss the COVID situation of the Capital. He appealed to all three MCDs to provide more beds, stating that the Delhi government is ready to provide things that will be needed.CM Kejriwal said that the Delhi government is preparing beds on a large scale in Yamuna Sports Complex and Commonwealth Game Village. He said that he requests all three MCDs to give maximum medical infrastructure and manpower so that we can use them properly. Kejriwal said that only when the Central government, Delhi government and MCD work together, will we be able to handle the current surge of COVID in Delhi.
In this high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Health Minister Satyendar Jain and Delhi chief secretary were also present. In this meeting Delhi CM briefed about the Covid situation of Delhi and discussed the necessary steps.
CM Kejriwal said, “To quote an estimate number, until mid-March, we were handling 100-150 corona positive cases per day. However, the report that was released yesterday disclosed about 24,000 cases per day; that is, within 24hrs, 24,000 cases. The number 24,000 is an extremely overwhelming one irrespective of how efficient the system is.
For the world and the country, this may be the 2nd wave, but for Delhi, this is our 4th wave. The first wave was in June last year, the second wave was in September, the third wave in November and now the fourth wave in 2021.”
He said, “Even when the first wave had hit us, I had said that this is such a huge crisis, no government, no party, no state, no one single institution could imagine tackling it on its own. We have to come together, work together, pool in all our resources to overcome it. In the first wave itself, the coordination between the Centre, the Delhi government and the MCD were brilliant.
We were able to set aside our differences and work effectively for the people of Delhi, as was required at that time. Even today, we have the full support of the Centre and while this is the first official meeting with the three Commissioners of the Municipal Corporations of Delhi and the Mayors, we have been conducting regular officer level meetings for coordination of efforts. The aim of the three governments is the same, to save the lives of the people and control the pandemic.”
CM Kejriwal said, “Currently, the crisis we are facing is the rate at which the virus is spreading; 24,000 is a very big number. Beds are limited and it is natural that if such big numbers continue to ping in, a time might come when beds will not be available. If such pace continues then within the next 2-3 days, we will be facing a shortage of beds.
A shortage in other facilities will also be there. In a way, this situation is a race against time. If within the next 2-3 days, the situation improves then we will be able to manage. However, if it continues to deteriorate in this manner then it will become very difficult for us to cope. The health system will reach a point of collapse where beds, oxygen and ventilators will not be able to cope with the overwhelming demand of the situation.”
He said, “I would like to thank the three MCD Commissioners for offering their services wholeheartedly and more importantly for the way the MCD has handled crematoriums. You have handled them very responsibly and I hope you continue to do so. We now need your assistance with your hospitals. Standing Committee Chairperson Shri Jay Prakash just informed us that you would be able to arrange for 400 beds and South Corporation’s Mayor Anamika ji has also made available the Poornima Sethi Multi Speciality Hospital.
At this point, we are not looking at isolation beds, we are looking at oxygen beds. If you have beds available, please volunteer your services, we will give you whatever else you require. We need beds, if you have beds, we will ensure that the rest of it – PPE kits, oxygen cylinders etc. are provided. Our priority right now is to increase beds. So, if you can increase the number of beds that you are right now making available, that would also be of immense help.”
He said, “Additionally, MCD has its own medical infrastructure and manpower, if it is possible for you to spare that medical manpower and make them available for corona duty, that would be very helpful. We are right now preparing beds in Yamuna complex, in the commonwealth village but need doctors and nurses to monitor patients that will be taken there. If MCD is able to spare its medical staff for the next 20-25 days and help us overcome this wave, which will hopefully ebb by then, that would aid the people of Delhi greatly. Another thing that was raised here was door-to-door vaccination.”
CM Kejriwal said, “I too have personally requested the Centre to grant us permission for this. I hope that they will agree. This will help us to vaccinate the population with greater speed. If the MCD ever requires my assistance, I am available. Please call me, communicate with me and I will do whatever is in my best capacity to help you. Again, I reiterate, we need to come together and work together as a team to overcome this crisis.”
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