Amid a rise in COVID-19 cases nationwide, several hospitals in Delhi on Monday conducted mock drills to check their preparedness to tackle the virus. The two-day nationwide COVID mock drills, in which both private as well as public hospitals are participating, will continue on Tuesday. During a visit to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on Monday, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed its measures taken to combat the disease, reported news agency PTI.
A senior doctor at the Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital while talking to PTI said, "The exercise is underway at our hospital. This will test our COVID preparedness, including the availability of beds, oxygen and other healthcare logistics requirements to deal with any eventuality in view of a rising number of COVID-19 and influenza-type cases." He said that the hospital has 325 beds and as per the instructions issued by CM Arvind Kejriwal, an isolation room with a set of beds has been established.
The doctor added that the exercise will go on for around two-three hours.
The public hospitals in Delhi had earlier also taken part in a mock drill on March 26. This mock drill was carried out based on the instructions of the city health department.
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A senior doctor at another hospital said, "We are conducting the mock drill. All COVID preparedness parameters are being assessed." He said that instructions have been issued to ensure the preparedness of all logistics and health infrastructure to deal with any eventuality despite the hospital not being a COVID facility.
Suresh Kumar, the medical director of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital while talking to PTI said that more cases will get recorded but there is no need to panic. He also said that a mock drill will be conducted at the 2,000-bed hospital, the largest COVID facility run by the state government.
Earlier, CM Arvind Kejriwal last week said that the state government is keeping an eye on the spike in COVID cases and is "prepared to face any eventuality".