New Delhi: Facing criticism for its decision to reserve beds for ‘residents’ of Delhi, the state government on Tuesday released information that revealed a grim scenario predicting a big surge in COVID-19 cases.
Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, following a meeting with Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), said that the number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi is expected to surge to 1 lakh by the end of June and to 5.5 lakh by the end of July. He said in view of the rise in cases, which are doubling every 12.6 days, the requirement of beds in the city would go up to 15,000 by June-end and 80,000 by July-end.
The meeting had been held after Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal had reversed the decision taken by the Delhi cabinet to reserve 10,000 beds in government-run hospitals for ‘residents’ of Delhi.
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Emerging from the meeting, which was chaired by Baijal, who is also the chairperson of the DDMA, Sisodia said during the LG had been asked about his overturning of the Delhi cabinet’s decision. The Delhi deputy CM said Baijal had been asked if he had conducted some “evaluation” on the requirement of beds for Delhi’s residents before overturning the decision to reserve 10,000 hospital beds. He said the LG had “no idea” about it.
“I asked him if he had evaluated how many beds would be required when people from all over the country would come to Delhi. But to that too he had no answer,” he added, and asked, who would take the responsibility if there are not enough beds in the future to cater to the needs of Delhi’s residents.
Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain (L) and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia address media after meeting Delhi Lt Gov Anil Baijal in New Delhi, June 9, 2020. Photo: PTI
Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain, who also attended the meeting, said it was in keeping with the increase in demand for beds that some had been reserved. However, he said, the LG contended that all beds will remain available to residents of other states too. “Aagey jo hoga who dekh lengay (We will see what will happen ahead),” was Baijal’s response, he claimed.
The Delhi government’s decision had come under criticism as the list of documents required to ‘prove’ that a person is a resident of Delhi narrowed the scope of treatment for many.
Jain said while some experts from the Centre still disputed that there was community spread of the coronavirus in Delhi, he did not want to get into the “official jargon”. One thing is certain, that the disease is spreading, he said.
‘80,000 beds required by end of July’
Painting a grim picture of the expected rise in COVID-19 cases, Sisodia said the models were drawn up with the doubling rate pegged at 12.6 days.
During the discussions, it was stated that 6,600 beds would be required by June 15, 15,000 by June 30, 33,000 by July 15 and 80,000 by July 31 for COVID-19 patients. As for the number of cases, he said, they would be around 44,000 by June 15, 1 lakh cases by June 30, 2.25 lakh cases by July 15 and 5.5 lakh cases by July 31. As of Tuesday, Delhi has just under 30,000 cases.
The alarming picture painted by Sisodia comes soon after the Delhi government’s insistence that there is no shortage of beds in the state.
He said until a few days ago, the hospitals in Delhi were mostly being accessed by those residing in the city. This is the reason, he said, why the Delhi Cabinet had decided to reserve the beds for the citizens.
“Now we will go as per the LG’s decision and keep the health facilities open to citizens from all over the country. We will also try to expand the health facilities as much as possible by augmenting the supply of oxygen, beds, etc,” he added.
Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 positive cases in Delhi reached 29,943, with 1,007 new cases being reported during the past 24 hours. Of these cases, 17,712 were still active, which is the second-highest in any state, after Maharashtra. The death toll also rose to 874, with 17 more deaths being reported since Sunday.