Centre asks states to create makeshift hospitals

The world is currently reporting the highest ever surge in Covid-19 cases: Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan

A Covid ward: File Picture

TT Bureau, Agencies   |   New Delhi   |  01.01.22 : The Centre on Saturday wrote to all states and Union territories to "take immediate stock of their healthcare infrastructure," according to hindustantimes.com.

"Apart from adding more beds to hospitals, ramping up health care facilities, the states have been asked to check their oxygen availability, in a note of caution," hindustantimes.com added.  

The world is currently reporting the highest ever surge in Covid-19 cases, health secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote in his letter.

"In the context of the spread of Variant of Concern omicron, the world is currently reporting the highest ever surge in Covid-19 cases. In India, the case trajectory is also showcasing an upward trend with 16,764 cases reported on December 31, the highest ever single-day rise in the past 70 days. Many developed nations in Europe and the Americas are reporting a significant rise in new cases in the past few weeks, which indicates high transmissibility of the virus," the secretary added.

"The health infrastructure may soon start getting stressed as there is a sudden increase in cases, the Centre added.

Keeping this in mind, Centre has asked states to create makeshift hospitals. States may also utilise hotel accommodations for patients having mild to moderate symptoms, as it was done during the earlier surges in some states, it said.