Gurugram converts hotels into isolation centres

Sanjay Yadav

Gurugram, April 15

Bringing the city’s health infrastructure on its toes, Gurugram recorded its highest-ever 1,500 Covid cases on Thursday.

With its hospital beds full and many condominiums becoming Covid hotspots, the health authorities have gone ahead by converting 12 hotels and five hospitals into isolation centres.

Issuing orders in this regard, Deputy Commissioner Yash Garg said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had issued guidelines for the isolation of the confirmed cases in private facilities. There are instances where people don’t have the requisite space at home and may opt for facilities such as hotels, guest houses etc. This is likely to reduce the pressure on the family, give comfort to the person and protect the family members and the immediate neighbourhood.

“Whereas, it is necessary that paid isolation facilities may be notified for confirmed Covid-19 cases having mild and very mild symptoms. Now, therefore, Gurugram hereby notified 12 hotels and five hospitals as self-paid/govt paid isolation facilities,” read his orders.

According to the Health Department, these isolation facilities had a total of 577 beds and around 20 per cent were already full. They have different packages and the room rent is between Rs 1,200 and Rs 3,500.

“As per the guidelines, we have started the facility of isolation in private hotels. Five government-paid and 13 self-paid isolation centres are set up in the district. We have also issued strict guidelines on who should be admitted to hospitals. We have asked them not to give beds to mild or asymptomatic patients”, said CMO Dr Virender Yadav.

The move has, meanwhile, led various resident associations accuse the administration of putting them to risk by providing business to hotels.