NEW DELHI : Warning of dire situation in weeks ahead, the centre asked states to urgently resolve shortages of life-saving equipments amid rising pandemic. In a video-conferencing with chief secretaries of states, the cabinet secretary Rajeev Gaubha said there exists acute shortage of ICU beds, ventilators, oxygen stock and isolation beds in several states. The centre issued direction instructing states to ensure adequate facilities and supplies, by the end of July. Hotels and stadiums would have to be converted into treating facilities, Gaubha said.
The situation is critical in states of Maharashtra, Delhi, UP, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. They lack facilities to deal with Covid surges estimated for the months of June- August. There is no vacant ICU bed in Delhi since June 3 and ventilators are unavailable since Friday. By 25th, oxygen cylinders and isolation beds will get out of stock.
Ventilators are set to be outrun by July 25th in Maharashtra and the same would go for its ICU bed capacities in the first week of August. Tamil Nadu is headed for shortage on ICU beds and ventilator by 21 July together with oxygen facilities and isolation beds.
Healthcare facilities are on course to be critical in states of Haryana, Karnataka, Jammu-Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh and Bengal too. If the infection surges continue at present pace, shortages will grapple around 17 districts across Gujarat, Mumbai, Thane, Palkhar, Chennai, Jalgaon and Noida.
The centre expressed concern over rapid growth of positive cases in Delhi and Maharashtra. In the 3 weeks following lockdown relaxations on 18 May, 98 districts witnessed virus outbreak for the first time, said the cabinet secretary, as he indicated grave concern about situation in eastern and north-eastern states .
