In the wake of continuous rise in the number of Coronavirus cases in Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah called an urgent meeting on Sunday to take stock of the COVID-19 situation in the national capital. ALSO READ | Delhi HC Lifts Stay On AAP Govt's Order Reserving 80% ICU Beds For Covid-19 Patients


Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal, Health Minister Satyendra Jain and other senior officers of the central government attended the meeting with Shah in the evening.

Moments after the meet concluded, CM Kejriwal said that the centre has assured 750 ICU beds will be made available at the DRDO centre. Delhi Chief Minister also announced that the number of COVID tests conducted daily will be increased to over 1 lakh.

"Since October 20, there has been a rise in cases here. There is sufficient number of COVID beds, but ICU beds are exhausting. Centre has assured 750 ICU beds will be made available at the DRDO centre. The no. of COVID tests conducted daily to be increased to over 1 lakh," Kejriwal said.

"Centre will also help the Delhi government in getting BiPAP machines to increase the number of ICU beds at Delhi government facilities," Delhi Chief Minister added.

As the wrath of Covid-19 continues to grapple the national capital amid Diwali festivities, it confirmed the second-highest single-day fatalities on Saturday. The city recorded as many as 96 deaths and 7,340 new infections out of the 49,645 tests conducted in the last 24 hours.

It is pertinent to mention here that the availability of ICU beds with ventilator support in Delhi has reached at an all-time low, with only 13 per cent beds available in private and government hospitals combined. Most of the major hospitals have reached maximum occupancy, while many just have a single bed available for patients requiring ICU and ventilator support.

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this time, the High Court has pulled up the government, observing that situation is dynamic in Delhi. The court on Thursday even allowed the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to reserve 80 per cent beds in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) of 33 private hospitals for Covid-19 patients.