Bengal fights COVID: Government prepares 1,200 safe homes in stadiums and theatres

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With fresh COVID infections rising fast, the West Bengal government added 4,500 new hospital beds and 1,200 safe home beds for patients with minor symptoms in two stadiums and one theatre.

While the hospitals beds are distributed in different parts of the state, the 1,200 safe home accommodations are in Kolkata.

While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the addition of the 4,500 hospital beds at a press conference in Malda where she had gone for campaigning, urban development minister Firhad Hakim told the media about the new safe home beds.

Fresh 8,419 cases of COVID infections were added in the state on April 18, taking the total active cases to 49,638.

Incidentally, there are 7,616 hospital beds for COVID patients in the state including all government and private sector hospitals. According to government data, the occupancy rate till April 18 was 42.57%.

The number of ICU Beds stands at 1,796 and the numbers of ventilators is 525.

There are 11,507 safe home beds for patients with minor COVID symptoms in the state, excluding the 1,200 that were announced on Monday.

Mamata Banerjee announced on Sunday in a television interview that she will be addressing only one public meeting in Kolkata to avoid mass gatherings. Kolkata has witnessed the highest number of COVID infections that prompted her to take the decision, she said.

Incidentally, polling is yet to be held in any of the 11 seats of Kolkata. Only small meetings will be held in the city by her party leader, she said.

In Kolkata, the active cases stood at 13,773 on April 18, which is the highest in any district of Bengal.

Before the press conference CM wrote on twitter, ‘With the massive surge in #COVID19 cases across India, the Government of West Bengal is taking all necessary steps to protect its people. I’ve reached out to the PM to help us with additional medicines and vaccines required.’