Coronavirus: AIIMS New Delhi puts a stop to walk-in OPD registration, elective surgeries

New Delhi All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi on March 21 decided to temporarily close routine walk-in OPD's patients registrations from March 23 in backdrop of the coronavirus.

"It has been decided to temporarily close down routine walk-in OPD's patients' registrations including Specialty Clinics at AIIMS Hospital and all Centres from March 23," said Dr. DK Sharma, Medical, Superintendent of AIIMS.

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Earlier in the day, the AIIMS decided to postpone all non-essential elective procedures and surgeries for now as a major part of its manpower and resources have been diverted in fighting coronavirus threat. The hospital will, however, continue to do emergency life-saving surgeries.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Saturday said that the total number of positive cases of coronavirus now stands at 271 in the country.

The hospital will, however, continue to do emergency life-saving surgeries. A statement from AIIMS said, "It has been decided in the meeting chaired by Director AIIMS on March 20 that operation theatre services of AIIMS New Delhi need to be curtailed in response to the heightened need for diversion of infrastructure, manpower and material resources for prevention and control of COVID-19 outbreak."

"Accordingly, it is decided that all non-essential elective procedures/surgeries are to be postponed and only emergency/life-saving surgeries may be taken up in various operation theatres of AIIMS with immediate effect," the circular said. The total number of COVID-19 cases in India has now climbed up to 223, including 32 foreigners, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday.

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