Thiruvananthapuram, July 27: Kerala Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today informed that 45% of the 12,801 beds available in 101 Covid First-Line Treatment Centres (CFLTCs) are now occupied. He also announced that more CFLTCs are being prepared and additional manpower resources required will be mobilised.
Briefing the media, the Chief Minister said, “In the second phase, 229 CFLTCs with 30,598 beds are being made ready and in the third phase, there will be 480 CFLTCs with 36,400 beds. The basic CFLTC team consists of a medical officer, a co-team leader, a staff nurse, two lab technicians and two pharmacists. These numbers will be increased as required. 1,679 personnel were trained for the Covid Brigade. The training for others will begin immediately.”
It is expected that the spread of the disease will increase in the coming days. Steps are being taken to face the situation by preparing more CFLTCs and finding additional manpower. Students who have completed their studies from the Health University courses will be deployed at CFLTCs. LSG bodies will provide accommodation and other facilities to such appointees. The Department of Health has directed the university to prepare the details for the deployment of these students.
The CM also said that the disease outbreaks are occurring in many clusters and the numbers of clusters are also increasing. There is a consensus on tightening the restrictions in these places. The intervention of the police will be further increased to control violations. Legal action will be taken against those who cause the spread of the disease through their irresponsible behaviour.
He also announced that epidemiologists will conduct studies on clusters and places where clusters are likely to form. Long-term projects are being planned for sustaining the Covid defence measures over a long period.
Tariff for Covid treatment in private hospitals, lowest in the country
Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan has said that charges for Covid treatment in private hospitals fixed by the Government in consultation with the private hospitals are the lowest in the country.
The Chief Minister said, “In Kerala, treatment for Covid is provided completely free of cost in government hospitals. Covid Hospitals and Covid First-Line Treatment Centres also provide free meals to patients. Private hospitals are cooperating well with the government for Covid treatment. As of now, 44 non-functioning hospitals and 42 partially functioning hospitals in the private sector have been identified for taking over and will be converted for Covid treatment. More hospitals are coming forward to join hands with the government for Covid treatment as part of the Karunya Suraksha scheme.”
CASP beneficiaries and government-referred Covid patients will get free treatment from empanelled private hospitals. A temporary empanelment facility has been set up exclusively for Covid treatment. The per-day charges for treatment in private hospitals are Rs. 2,300 in General Ward, Rs. 6,500 in ICU and Rs. 11,500 in Ventilator ICU.