Once bitten, twice shy. Having received flak from various quarters over its alleged failure to handle the second wave Covid-19, the Gujarat government is leaving no stone unturned to remain prepared for the possible new wave of the deadly virus.
At a mock drill organised at Gandhinagar’s Civil Hospital to check the preparedness, Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said there are more than one lakh beds and about 16,000 ventilators in the state. People need not be scared, he said.
In the peak of the second wave of Covid-19, the state government had fallen short of beds, ventilators, oxygen supply and even ambulances. There were waiting lists as the crematoria were functioning beyond capacity.
Patel said more infrastructure will be created if need arises. He said that the state has adequate doses of vaccine and has sought 12 lakh more doses from the Centre.
Appealing to those who are yet to take the precaution dose to take the shot, the minister said that soon a drive will be organised to give precaution doses. He also said that mock drills are being organized in all civil hospitals.
