Doctors treating COVID-19 patients in Delhi housed at five-star hotel

The expenses will be borne by the Delhi government

delhi-doctors Representational Image | Aayush Goel

Doctors treating coronavirus patients at Delhi’s Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital and GB Pant Hospital will be accommodated at the five-star hotel, The Lalit, and the Arvind Kejriwal government will bear the cost of their accommodation.

The government said this is a precautionary measure to keep the doctors who are on COVID-19 duty away from their families so that there is no chance of the virus spreading in the event of any of them getting infected while at work.

The office of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “Doctors are on the frontlines of the battle against Coronavirus. All doctors serving in Delhi government's Lok Nayak Hospital and GB Pant Hospital on COVID-19 duty will now be housed in Hotel Lalit.”

Health Minister Satyender Jain described the measure as an arrangement to quarantine the doctors. He said every doctor will be given a separate room.

The order, issued by the health department, read: “It has been decided that doctors working on COVID-19 duty at LNJP Hospital and GB Pant Hospital would be provided accommodation at Hotel Lalit and the payment of the same shall be borne by the Delhi government.”

The district magistrate of New Delhi district has been directed to make necessary arrangements to make 100 rooms available at the hotel located in Central Delhi.

“The doctors are working 24x7 to treat COVID-19 positive patients. Therefore, it is our duty to ensure a suitable and safe arrangement for them. This is a quarantine facility so that the family members of the doctors do not come in contact with them,” said Jain.

The government has prepared a work plan for healthcare workers and medical professionals who are on coronavirus duty in hospitals. It comprises a 14-day shift followed by a 14-day quarantine.

📣 The Week is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TheWeekmagazine) and stay updated with the latest headlines