Assam government faces a shortage of hospital beds in Guwahati to combat with COVID-19

Guwahati, June 28: Assam government is facing a shortage of hospital beds to deal with the novel Coronavirus as the state witnesses rise in COVID-19 positive cases.

Following a sharp spike in COVID-19 positive cases in Guwahati, Assam Health department is now working to manage more hospital beds in the capital city of Assam to combat with the deadly virus.

The state Health Department has now decided to convert six quarantine centres constructed at Khanapara area in the city with a capacity of 900 people to COVID-19 care centres.

Guwahati has witnessed a sharp spike in COVID-19 positive cases with over 1000 cases detected in the city within 12 days.

Assam Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the government-run hospitals in Guwahati now have a capacity of 890 beds.

“We have seen a sharp spike in COVID-19 positive cases in Guwahati recent times. We have found an average of 200 cases daily alone in Guwahati. If it will continue, then all hospitals in Guwahati will be filled within a short time. Then we will have to shift the patients to the nearby districts and will require more ambulances, staff for it. But it will also create some different atmosphere among the people of the nearby districts,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The Assam minister further said that, to combat with the situation, the state government has decided to impose 14-day total lockdown in Guwahati city and in all areas of Kamrup (Metro) district from June 28.

Assam has reported 246 new positive cases for COVID-19 in last 24 hours taking the state tally to 7165.

According to the National Health Mission, Assam, the state has 4232 beds in isolation wards, 424 beds in isolation wards with ICU facility, 265 beds in isolation wards with ventilator facility.