6,000 beds to be made available in the next 10 days

Occupancy at the two operational COVID-19 Care Centres have increased to around 70%

With health experts warning that the next 10 days will be crucial, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is working towards increasing vaccination, ramping up testing and ensuring that there are enough beds in government and private health care facilities. BBMP Commissioner Gaurav Gupta said that, over the next 10 days, around 6,000 beds will be available for treatment of COVID-19 patients in government-run and private health care facilities. The civic chief met Tushar Girinath, nodal officer for monitoring the Apthamitra helpline, K.V. Thrilok Chandra, Commissioner, Department of Health and Family Welfare, and other senior officials on Friday to chart out a plan. The Central Hospital Bed Allocation team, comprising IAS and IPS officials, will conduct inspections to ensure private facilities have reserved 50% of the total beds for COVID-19 patients. Private healthcare facilities will be required to display the number of beds available under government and private quota for the benefit of the public.