Delhi: 100 rooms in two five-star hotels turned into Covid-19 hospitals

NEW DELHI: Delhi government on Friday ordered extension of Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital into two five-star and one budget hotel of the city to facilitate the treatment of Covid-19 positive officials of Delhi government and autonomous bodies, corporations, and local bodies and their family members. Altogether 50 rooms in five-star hotel Leela Ambience near CBD Ground and 50 rooms in Park Plaza, Shahdara besides 70 rooms in budget hotel Hotel Ginger in Vivek Vihar will be converted into hospitals.
An order issued by the government asked district magistrate Shahdara to requisition these rooms in the hotels and place them at the disposal of RGSSH immediately.
"RGSSH (including extended in hotels) and laboratory is designated for treatment of Covid-19 positive officials of Delhi government, autonomous bodies, corporations, and local bodies and their family members," the government order stated.
“Director, RGSSH is directed to provide Covid-19 health care facility at these hotels to the Covid-19 positive officers/officials treating as if they are admitted in the hospital. Serious patients could be shifted to main hospital areas," the government order stated.
An official said that healthcare workers and government employees who test positive for coronavirus would be admitted into these hotels where they will be provided medical treatment at part with the hospitals. RGSSH is a Covid-19 designated hospital of Delhi government where 118 patients are currently admitted. The RGSSH has the capacity to cater to 500 patients, said an official.
RGSSH spokesperson Dr Chhavi Gupta said not only health care workers but also government officials of all groups (not only class one officials) would be admitted in these hotels. “It will work as a morale booster for all the healthcare workers and government employees who are working on the frontlines in the fight against coronavirus,” said Gupta.
Delhi government had in the past turned hotels and community halls into Covid-19 care centres to accommodate the rising number of coronavirus positive cases in the capital. The total number of Covid-19 positive cases rose to 6318 on Friday with 338 new cases being reported only on Friday. More hotels could be converted into Covid-19 hospitals in future if the number of coronavirus positive persons continues to steadily rise.