COVID Third Wave Possible : Karnataka High Court Directs State To Come Out With Action Plan

The Karnataka High Court has directed the State Government to in two weeks time come out with an action plan and vision statement dealing with state of preparedness for dealing with third possible wave of Covid-19.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar said : "Though during the last few days we have dealt with immediate measures to deal with the enormous challenge posed by Covid-19, it is high time that the state government starts preparation for dealing with the third wave. By projecting estimates of the requirement of beds/drugs, oxygen, medical personnel etc. We direct the state to prepare an action plan and vision statement dealing with the state of preparedness for dealing with the third possible wave of Covid-19."

The direction followed after the court was informed by the state government that a total of 45,754 beds supported by oxygen are available in the state. 5305 ICU beds available and 4109 beds with ventilators are available. However, the requirement project by the Central government is of 66,333 Oxygen supported beds, 13969 ICU beds and 8332 Ventilator beds. "Thus it can be said that there is a huge shortage of beds at the state level," the court observed."

The bench also noted the fact that as far as areas covered by BBMP is concerned at 2.45 pm today, 49 HDU beds, 16 ICU beds and 7 ICU with ventilator beds were available.

It said "Thus the situation in Bengaluru regarding availability of beds continues to be critical especially when over 15,000 cases are reported everyday in the city."

The court also directed the state government to place on record a detailed chart giving details of availability of beds in each district and estimated requirement of beds in each district.