Karnataka Hospitals, medical colleges told to reserve 30 percent beds for COVID-19 patients

Bengaluru: In response to the rising COVID-19 cases in the state, the Karnataka government has ordered the private hospitals and private medical colleges in the state on Wednesday to immediately reserve and keep ready 30 per cent of beds.

This came as  the state also instituted special surveillance measures to be complied strictly for all arrivals from neighbouring state of Goa.

The private hospitals are told to reserve and keep ready in ICU, ICU with ventilator, HDU/Oxygenated beds for treatment of Covid-19 patients referred by the health authorities.

Further by January 7, 50 per cent beds of each category -- ICU, ICU with ventilator, HDU/Oxygenated beds category and general beds of private hospitals -- to be reserved for Covid-19 patients referred by the health authorities, the order says.

The private medical college hospitals will keep ready and reserve beds under each category up to 50 per cent by January 7 and upto 75 per cent by January 10.

Non-adherence to the orders by any private health care providers and medical colleges will be liable to proceed as per provisions of Disaster Management Act, 2005 and IPC sections, the order warns.

The Labour Department is entrusted with the task of ensuring that the employees working in industries, factories, IT industries are vaccinated with two doses and adhere to Covid guidelines at work places.

The local labour officer along with health department officials will verify the vaccinated status of employees. Any violations in this regard will also attract legal action, Chief Secretary and Chairman State Executive Committee P. Ravikumar has ordered.

Meanwhile Stricter measures were instituted for those travelling to the state. According the state Health and Family Welfare Department, negative RT-PCR certificates not older than 72 hours shall be compulsorily produced by the passengers travelling on flight, bus, train or personal transport and entering Karnataka.

This is also applicable for passengers boarding connecting flights for Goa. The airlines concerned shall issue boarding passes only to the passengers carrying negative RT-PCR certificates.

Similarly, railway authorities shall be responsible for ensuring that all passengers traveling by trains from Goa to Karnataka carry negative RT-PCR certificates.

For all passengers traveling by bus originating from Goa, bus conductors shall be directed to ensure passengers possess negative RT-PCR certificates.

Deputy Commissioners of the districts bordering Goa state, Belagavi and Uttara Kannada shall establish check posts and make arrangements to deploy necessary staff to ensure that all vehicles (passengers, drivers, helpers or cleaners) entering Karnataka are checked for the compliance of the above requirements.

It is mandatory for students and the public who are regular travellers from Goa to Karnataka for various reasons, to undergo RT-PCR once in 15 days and possess such negative reports.

Health care professionals, children below five years, in dire emergency situations such as death in family and medical treatment are permitted exemptions for negative RT-PCR certificates. Their swabs will be collected on arrival in Karnataka with necessary details like phone number, address. On receipt of receipt of RT-PCR report, necessary action will be initiated, the order said.