By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, APR 16, 2021: AMID the surge in COVID-19 cases and fatalities, the Health Ministry on Friday advised all Central ministries and their Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to set-up dedicated hospital wards or separate blocks for Covid Care.

"Many State and Union Territories (UTs) across the country have been reporting a surge since the past few weeks in the cases and deaths caused by COVID-19," the government said, adding that a 'whole of government' approach is being used to proactively support the States.

As a significant measure to substantially augment the hospital infrastructure for effective clinical management of severe COVID-19 patients, the government has advised all Central ministries to issue instructions to the hospitals under their control or their PSUs.

The hospitals or blocks should have separate entry and exit points for the management of COVID-19 cases, to provide treatment services including specialised care for the confirmed cases.

Additionally, they have to be equipped to provide all supportive and ancillary services including oxygen supported beds, ICU beds, ventilators and specialised Critical Care Units (wherever available), laboratory services, imaging services, kitchen, and laundry, along with a dedicated health work force.

The move follows after India surpassed its record daily run of new COVID-19 infections on Friday, with 2,17,353 fresh cases, pushing the cumulative tally to nearly 1.43 crore.