MCD has money for hoardings but not for paying doctors' salaries: Delhi Health Minister

"It is evident that MCD is not able to properly run and manage their hospitals. We have written a letter to BJP led MCD to handover hospitals to Delhi govt, to avoid any further inconveniences to the medical, para-medical staff, and the patients coming to the hospital," he said in a tweet.

The letter stated that serious concerns have been raised regarding non-payment of salaries/wages/other dues to the medical, paramedical, and other staff working in Hindu Rao Hospital, Kasturba Hospital, and other hospitals of MCD.

Many doctors sat outside the hospital demanding their dues pending for several months and raised slogans against the Delhi government. Talking about the national capital's fatality ratio in the last 10 days, Satyendar Jain said two-third of Covid-19 beds were now empty.

"In the last 10 days, the death toll has been 0.94 percent while the overall fatality ratio stands at 1.77 percent. One-third of covid beds are currently occupied and two-thirds is empty," the minister said.

"Dr. Paul expert committee had said that due to cold & festive season, cases (per day) can spike up to 12,000-14,000 but right now it's around 4000 so the situation is contained. We are focused on containment, contact tracing & isolation to tackle the situation. Hence no relaxation in restrictions unless the vaccine arrives. Masks and social distancing absolutely mandatory. We will continue taking strict precautions," Jain added further.

The health minister also declared that schools in Delhi won't reopen in the near future. "All the school shall remain closed for the time being. We had a discussion regarding the same with the chief minister yesterday," he concluded.