The surge in Covid-19 cases can be contained only when the Centre, Delhi Government and Municipal Corporations work together, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a high-level meeting held with the three commissioners and mayors of municipal corporations to discuss the Covid situation in the national Capital.
The Chief Minister appealed to all three MCDs to ensure more beds and also assured them to provide all the requisite support. Kejriwal said that the Delhi Government is preparing beds on a large scale in Yamuna Sports Complex and Commonwealth Game Village.
In the meeting that held over video conferencing at the Delhi Secretariat, he requested all three MCDs to give maximum medical infrastructure and manpower so that we can use them properly.
In the meeting, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Health Minister Satyendar Jain and Delhi chief secretary were also present.
“We were handling estimated 100-150 corona positive cases per day until mid-March. However, the report that was released yesterday disclosed about 24,000 cases per day within 24hrs. 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.
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 and 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. 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," he said.
“The cases are increasing at fast pace and beds are limited. 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,” he said.
However, if it continues to deteriorate in this manner then it will become very difficult for us to cope, he said.
“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 added.
Kejriwal further 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.
Standing Committee Chairperson in North MCD Jay Prakash informed to arrange for 400 beds and South Corporation's Mayor Anamika has also made available the Poornima Sethi Multi Speciality Hospital.
“We are right now preparing beds in Yamuna complex in the commonwealth village but need doctors and nurses to monitor patients. If MCDs is able to spare its medical staff for the next 20-25 days and help us overcome this wave, it would be a great help,” he said.
