As the coronavirus cases rising in the state, Karnataka government has asked private hospitals in the state to reserve 50 percent beds for COVID-19 patients as it was done during the first wave, Health & Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar said in a statement on Monday.
After holding a video conference with the Private Hospitals and Nursing Home Association (PHANA), the minister said that private hospitals have agreed to reserve 50 percent beds for covid patients within a week.
Patients without symptoms and with mild symptoms will be isolated in hotels and Covid care centres, while only patients with severe conditions will be treated in hospitals. The minister also addressed the issue of a shortage of Remdesivir drug for COVID patients in the state.
"Private hospitals have complained that the medicine is not available in the market. We will discuss the issue with the drug controller and supply the medicine to private hospitals at government rates," Sudhakar said.
On Monday, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa warned of more curfews and measures in the state to control rising number of cases, but added that the government is not looking at a lockdown at this moment. Karnataka has imposed night curfew in Bengaluru for 10 days starting April 11. The state reported 10,250 positive cases on April 10, with Bengaluru alone accounting for 70 percent of the tally.
First Published: Apr 12, 2021 6:07 PM IST
