Delhi's four private hospitals asked to establish Omicron isolation units

NEW DELHI: Amid a rising number of Omicron confirmed cases in the capital, the Delhi government has asked four private hospitals to establish separate isolation units for patients infected with the new coronavirus variant.
After the Omicron scare, the government designated Lok Nayak Hospital, the capital’s largest hospital, for Omicron patients. The separate isolation units for Omicron in private hospitals will create more healthcare facilities for the patients and will address panic among people.
The four hospitals are Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket; Batra Hospital & Research Centre, Tughlakabad Institutional Area; Fortis Super Specialty Hospital, Vasant Kunj and Sir Ganga Ram City Hospital.
“In order to augment the capacity of institutional isolation facility in the private sector for Covid positive international passengers who have traveled from or transited through the countries classified as "Countries At Risk" as per the central government guidelines, the authorities of Batra Hospital & Research Centre, Tughlakabad Institutional Area; Fortis Super Specialty Hospital, Vasant Kunj and Sir Ganga Ram City Hospital are hereby directed to establish separate (isolation) unit for such passengers on payment basis with immediate effect and to follow the SOPs issued by MotlFW, Gol from time to time,” an order issued by the health department stated. The WHO has classified Omicron as variant of concern.
Earlier this month the Delhi government asked authorities of Max Smart Super Specialty Hospital, Saket to establish separate (isolation) unit for Covid positive international passengers who have travelled from or transited through "Countries At Risk".
Altogether 12 Covid positive international passengers were admitted in Max Smart Super Specialty Hospital, Saket as on December 15. Now five hospitals are available for the treatment of Omicron patients.
The Covid cases are slowly rising in the capital. Delhi reported 86 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday which is the highest in past some months. According to the latest health bulletin the positivity rate in the capital stood at 0.13% which is one of the highest in recent times.