Experts say rather than waste funds on CCCs, the government should focus on increasing ICU and oxygenated beds.
BENGALURU: Although there are very few takers for these beds, the state government and many private organisations are busy setting up Covid Care Centres (CCC) across the state. CCCs are meant for mild or asymptomatic patients and the aim is to reduce the burden on hospitals.
Health department officials say CCCs with a total 10,000 beds have been set up across the state over the past two weeks, but very few have oxygenated beds. As a result, less than 30% of beds across CCCs are occupied. In Bengaluru alone, there are around 2,500 beds in about 30 CCCs, including 500 oxygenated beds. In all, only 750 beds are occupied.
He claims medical infrastructure has collapsed
Former Minister and BJP MLC A.H. Vishwanath on Tuesday lashed out at his own party government in the State for its ‘failure’ to tackle the situation arising out of COVID-19 pandemic.
Expressing concern over worsening of the situation, he criticised the government for “behaving as though nothing was wrong” even when a large number of people in the State, particularly in Bengaluru, were dying following the ‘collapse’ of medical infrastructure. “Even the last rites are being denied to the dying”, he bemoaned.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Mr. Vishwanath referred to Health Minister’s reported statement that people were themselves responsible for roaming around freely and causing a spike in the number of cases. “It is an irresponsible statement from the Minister”, Mr. Vishwanath said before cautioning the Minister against blaming the public.