Mangaluru: Owing to surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in neighbouring state of Kerala, Dakshina Kannada district has taken a major decision of making district Wenlock Hospital as an exclusive hospital meant only to handle the COVID-19 cases.
This decision was taken after holding a meeting with the management of private medical colleges hospital in the district.
Informing about the decision, Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary said that 250 beds of Wenlock’s super-speciality building will be used for COVID-19 patient only.
To start with, the suspected cases of COVID-19 will be kept at the 20 beds Ayush hospital located near Wenlock Hospital. If any positive cases are found among suspected cases, they will be shifted to the wards of super speciality hospital building.
Gradually, 705 beds in the Wenlock Hospital’s old building will be turned into the hospital for the corona patients only and this will be done in phases.
However, the 218 patients, who are presently receiving treatment for different diseases will be shifted to the wards of private medical college hospitals, within three days. Treatment will be provided to them free of cost.
A total of 140 children, who are being treated at RAPCC building will also be shifted to private medical college hospital soon.
If needed, 20 beds isolation ward will be set up in every private medical hospital.
If any positive cases of COVID-19 are found in private medical college hospital, they will be shifted to Wenlock Hospital. To coordinate these procedures, health officer Dr Kishore Kumar has been appointed as the nodal officer.
There are 32 ventilators in Wenlock Hospital, which will be upgraded to 100 within a week, Kota informed.
