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On the heels of some improvement in oxygen situation in the capital, the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday called for framing of long term plan to build large oxygen storage capacity in Delhi.
“We have to prepare long-term plans and build the capacity of oxygen storage on a very large scale in Delhi”, Kejriwal said during a high-level meeting that he chaired to review the COVID19 situation in Delhi.
Delhi, which has been worst hit due to oxygen shortage during the ongoing second wave in the country, got some relief when the Centre — after Supreme Court and Delhi Court’s rebuke— supplied 730 tonnes of medical oxygen on Wednesday. This was more than double the average daily levels of about 350 tonnes received by Delhi in recent days.
Although Delhi had got 730 tonnes on Wednesday, the quantum of supply dropped to 577 tonnes on Thursday, much lower than the estimated daily requirement of 976 tonnes.
Meanwhile, Kejriwal at the review meeting said “Now that Delhi has received oxygen, no one in Delhi should suffer because of shortage of oxygen. All the hospitals in Delhi should increase their beds and every DM should arrange new oxygen beds in their districts so that no deaths happen due to lack of oxygen in Delhi."
He expressed displeasure on non-provision of oximeters to patients in home isolation and directed officials to ensure that oximeters are given to all patients recovering in home isolation.
He said that the 48 oxygen plants coming up should be installed immediately as soon as they reach Delhi. These 48 oxygen plants have an oxygen production capacity of 40 tonnes. This will further help in improving Delhi's oxygen situation, he said.
Kejriwal also said that Delhi government needs to recruit retired doctors, nurses, and medical staff on a large scale.
He said that Delhi government will be able to stop the third wave of Corona from coming to Delhi, only by being able to administer vaccines to everyone above 18 as soon as possible in the next three months.
DELHI COVID19 NUMBERS
Meanwhile, Delhi has in the last 24 hours to Friday reported 19,832 new Covid infections and 341 deaths.The test positivity ratio for the day stood at 24.92 per cent while the cumulative positivity rate increased to 7.31 per cent.The number of active cases stood at 91,035 and the total deaths till date stood at 18,739. Delhi is currently on a lockdown till May 10.
On Thursday, Delhi had recorded 19,133 new COVID19 cases and 335 daily deaths. It’s cumulative positivity rate till Thursday was 7.27 per cent
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