New Delhi, Oct 7 (UNI) Union health ministry stated on Thursday that India is fully prepared to manage a surge of 4.5 to 5 lakh cases of COVID-19 daily as healthcare facilities like oxygen plants, ICU beds and ventilators are being ramped up on large scale.
"India is now prepared to handle the surge of 4.5 to 5 lakh COVID-19 cases daily if the virus mutates and when another wave hits," Dr VK Paul, Member (health), NITI Aayog said.
Divulging the details of the preparation amid the possibility of an impending third wave of COVID-19, Dr Paul informed that around a million isolation beds and lakhs of oxygen support and ICU beds have been set-up in hospitals across the country.
He also added that a network of 4,000 Oxygen plants will installed in the country soon.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:
•As many as 1,200 Oxygen PSA plants are functional and a network of upto 4,000 plants will be established across the country soon.
•8,36,570 dedicated COVID-19 beds are available in hospitals
•9,69,885 additional isolation beds are available in dedicated COVID care centres
•1,35,000 ICU beds are available in hospitals
•4,86,000 oxygen supported beds are available
However, the centre cautioned that the fight against the pandemic is still underway and any scope of complacency should be ruled out to prevent futher surge.
UNI ASH SHK1815