Odisha: VIMSAR to get second COVID Hospital in 10 days

Burla: In view of steep single-day spike in COVID-19 cases in western Odisha districts, the State Government has decided to set up a second dedicated COVID hospital at the Veer Surendra Sai Institute Of Medical Sciences And Research (VIMSAR) here in Sambalpur.

Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra informed this after reviewing the COVID situation in Sambalpur district today.

The new COVID Hospital at VIMSAR will have 300 beds, of which 250 will have oxygen facility and 50 will be ICU beds. The 300-bed COVID Hospital will come up within 10 days, he told reporters.

At present, the VIMSAR has one COVID Hospital with 20 ICU beds. In view of current situation, the Government has decided to add another 30 beds to it. More number of beds may be added to the existing 175-bed COVID Hospital at VIMSAR.

“We are trying to increase the number of beds to 525 at COVID Hospital at VIMSAR,” Mohapatra said.

He said that amid rise in COVID cases in neighbouring State of Chhattisgarh, Odisha Government is on alert and fully prepared to face any possible situation here. The medicines, oxygen cylinders, PPE kits are available with the State to treat the COVID patients at the hospitals.

Meanwhile, the 150-bed Aditya Ashwini COVID Hospital with ICU facilities will reopen today in Bhubaneswar. The number of beds at SUM COVID Hospital has been increased to 500 from 250.