With the Covid positivity rate going above 25% and the numbers cited in the health bulletin rising sharply, Delhi is witnessing another wave of the deadly coronavirus. Compared to the hospitalizations, deaths and oxygen demand during the second wave last year, the situation is reported to be much better. However, the Border Security Force Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has restarted the Sardar Patel COVID Care Centre, which is believed to be the largest such facility in the world. This time it has all the advanced arrangements required for the patients.
After a long silence, the Center started taking fresh admissions from January 4 and has been accepting new cases daily. From then till January 13, a total of 231 patients were hospitalised, and 44 were discharged after recovery. The condition of all the caregivers is said to be stable.
The facility, which had people queuing up for oxygen and ventilator beds around March-April 2021, technically never closed. However, when the patient count dropped to zero after the second Covid wave ended, ITBP staff and the South Delhi administration used the time to integrate the center with facilities like oxygen cylinders, beds and other essential medical equipment.
“The facility was made functional on June 26, 2020, during the first wave. ITBP was responsible for optimum operation. The district administration is there, but ITBP is looking after logistics, administrative arrangements, security of the premises, medical stores and equipment,” said South Delhi District Magistrate Sonalika Jiwani. “At present, none of the patients is critical or even on oxygen support. This is a significant relief.”
Official figures show that 12,191 people were admitted here during the first wave. Most of them made a full recovery. At that time the center did not have ICU facility. However, it also had 150 ICU beds during the second wave. A total of 1,281 patients were successfully treated at that time. Many patients could not get admission due to lack of oxygen support and ventilators.
This time the center has 2,000 beds ready and a massive capacity of 10,000 beds which can be made available soon. A 250 LPM oxygen plant that supports 150 ventilator beds and over 1,500 oxygen cylinders is available. Services including treatment, food and medical care are completely free. Although the COVID situation is under control, officials say they are prepared for any possible surge.
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