As the number of COVID-19 cases surges in the capital and the focus is on availability of treatment facilities for those infected, the Delhi government on Tuesday launched a mobile app ‘Delhi Corona’ which will provide information about the availability of beds and ventilators in the city’s hospitals for patients.
“While we have arranged sufficient beds, ICU facilities and ventilators for COVID-19 patients, we have been getting messages from people that they are not able to get a bed. This is because of information gap,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said as he launched Delhi Corona app digitally.
He said the app will provide information about availability of facilities for COVID-19 patients in both government and private hospitals.
Stressing that his government was four steps ahead of the spread of COVID-19 in the capital, Kejriwal said that more than sufficient number of beds were available. “As of today, we have 6,731 beds available, and 2,819 of them are occupied,” he said.
The Delhi Corona app will be updated twice a day―at 10 am and 6 pm, Kejriwal said.
He said that if a hospital refuses admission to a patient despite the app showing that a bed is available there, the person can call up the number 1031, where a complaint can be lodged with the Special Secretary, Health, who will then take up the issue with the hospital.
Pointing out that a majority of the positive cases are recovering in home isolation, the chief minister said that the people should follow the hospital’s advice if they are told that they do not require hospitalisation and can recover at home.
“We have a team that will call you up two to three times a day and keep a tab on you if you are in home isolation. And if your condition worsens, you will be admitted in a hospital,” Kejriwal said.
Delhi has reported more than 20,000 COVID-19 cases and over 500 deaths.
