Delhi To Soon Have The World's Largest COVID-19 Facility, The Size Of 22 Football Fields
Work to convert Radha Soami Spiritual Centre in South Delhi into World's largest COVID facility is underway. The facility is expected to be read by the end of this month.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi are reportedly increasing and so is the demand for hospital beds. To meet the increasing demand and accommodate the anticipated number of new coronavirus cases, Delhi government has started converting the Radha Soami Spiritual Centre in South Delhi into the world's largest temporary COVID-19 care facility with 10,000 beds.
Reportedly even, corrugated cardboard beds will be available at this facility.
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"These beds need not be sanitised as the virus does not remain stable on cardboard for more than 24 hours; on metal, plastic and wood the virus can stay for up to five days. These beds are also really light, easy to assemble and dismantle. Supplying these beds for the facility is a matter of pride for us," NDTV quoted Vikram Dhavan, director of Dhavan Box Sheet Containers Pvt Ltd, as saying.
The Chhatarpur centre has an area of 12,50,000 square feet, which is as large as 22 football fields. Fans and CCTV cameras are already installed at the facility as it was previously used for sermons.
"The facility was being used to shelter migrant workers until recently. Its community kitchens are semi-industrial and can feed thousands of people at a time," Vikas Sethi, secretary of Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Bhati Mines, reportedly said.
Read: Delhi's Taj Mansingh Hotel Is Now A COVID-19 Facility
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South Delhi district magistrate BM Mishra, is overseeing the work. He said that the facility will function like 20 mini hospitals with 500 beds, each.
"Each 500-bed hospital will have 5-10 enclosures of 50-100 beds. Ten per cent of the beds will have oxygen supply. However, it will not have ventilators. We have made arrangements for referral with super specialty hospitals for critical patients," NDTV quoted him as saying.
The facility will have its own pathology laboratory for testing. 400 doctors will be working at the facility in two shifts.
Read: 500 Train Coaches To Be Deployed In Delhi To Make Makeshift Beds
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"The military and paramilitary will help with operations, maintenance, logistics, medical equipment and manpower - sanitation workers, pathologists, technicians, pharmacists," Mr Mishra said. The work is expected to be completed by June 30.
Delhi government estimates that the number of coronavirus cases will cross 5,00,000 by July-end, and the estimated number of beds required will be around one lakh. Currently Delhi has 10,000 dedicated COVID-19 beds in government and private hospitals.
Given how the cases in Delhi are close to the 50,000-mark, this is a good step to ensure availability of beds to patients.
