10% beds in private hospitals to be reserved for COVID-19 patients

Average caseload goes up from 243 in February to 1,500 in March

In the light of rising COVID-19 cases in the city, the government has resumed reserving beds in private hospitals, starting with 10% set apart for government quota this week. This will be increased in phases depending on how the caseload evolves, said civic commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad in a video conference with private hospital authorities on Wednesday. “At the peak of the pandemic last year, we had reserved 50% beds in private hospitals and as the caseload dropped, we gave away government quota of beds in private hospitals accommodating all patients in government hospitals only. But the numbers are increasing rapidly. From an average of 600 cases in December 2020, caseload dropped to an average of 333 in January, 243 in February but it has shot up to an average of over 1,500 cases in March. Roping in private hospitals is now inevitable,” Mr. Prasad said.