Coronavirus beds full in Noida, special unit is awaited
This week, the government of India identified ten coronavirus hotspots where the transmission has been unusual, and Noida was among them. The industrial hub saw a spike in cases recently, but shockingly, the authorities aren't equipped to handle the situation. The area has run out of COVID-19 beds and a unit at Sharda Hospital is still not ready, a report in TOI said.
Noida has seen 41 cases so far
So far, the city has recorded 41 cases, with three positive cases being reported on Tuesday. Currently, only seven beds are available, that too not entirely. Two beds at one of the units had to be sanitized, leaving the effective strength to five. Further, the new unit at Sharda Hospital will not be available until at least Thursday morning.
Everything is ready except oxygen pipeline: Sharda Hospital
While officials are working round-the-clock to get the 100-bed unit ready soon, an oxygen pipeline is still being installed. "We are trying our best to get the facility ready as soon as possible. Everything except the oxygen pipeline is in place. Once installed, we can take new patients from Thursday morning," a spokesperson told the daily. On Monday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Noida.
New DM said they would manage if fresh cases crop
When newly-inducted district magistrate Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj was asked what would happen if more than five people got infected, he replied, "I am sure we will be able to manage something." He said they still haven't found a patient who would need an oxygen cylinder, and if that happens, the administration has 20 cylinders. Suhas added that the new unit will be ready soon.
There are two medical facilities in Noida handling COVID-19
To note, Noida currently has two hospitals where patients are admitted. One is the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Greater Noida and another is child PGI (SSPHPGTI) in Sector 30. With beds full in GIMS, PGI has only five beds.
Most infections in Noida have a single source
On a related note, most of the cases of coronavirus in Noida have been linked to Ceasefire, a fire safety solutions firm. 29 of the 41 cases have been linked to the company, which has now been seized. On Monday, Adityanath pulled up the former DM BN Singh for failing to check the trail and letting the infection spread. Later, Singh was replaced.
'Bakwaas band karo': Adityanath burst at officers
The new cases have no connection to Ceasefire
However, none of the three fresh cases in Noida were linked to Ceasefire. An 81-year-old man of Sector 28, having no travel history, contracted the infection. Separately, a woman and her son in Sector 37 were also infected. The son's uncle recently traveled to Switzerland.
