(This was originally posted in Economic Times)
The Army will convert its base hospital as a 1,000-bed Covid-19 facility in Delhi, crippled with an unmanageable rise in patients. It has airlifted 23 mobile oxygen generation plants from Germany for the hospital to be run by armed forces medical services doctors and staff in a week.
The Indo Tibetan Border Police, meanwhile, will restart in three days one of the largest Covid-19 care centers in south Delhi, shut on February 23. The ITBP facility will have about 500-oxygen beds. More beds will be added, a senior MHA official said. “23 mobile oxygen generation plants are being airlifted from Germany. These will be deployed at the static hospital to provide adequate oxygen.
A large number of oxygen concentrators are also being procured,” the Army spokesperson said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has already cleared the use of emergency funds reserved to purchase emergency weapons and stores in times of conflict to procure the medical supplies.
INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.
