Covid-19 speciality centre gets ready in Kasaragod in 4 days

Kasaragod(Ker), Apr 7 () In just four days, the Keralagovernment has managed to transform a portion of the yet-to-becompleted Medical College hospital in Kasaragod, into aCovid-19 speciality centre.

The northernmost district, which is dependent onneighbouring Karnataka for most of its medical needs, hasreported the highest number of 128 coronavirus patients inKerala.

At least 10,836 people are under observation for thevirus in the district.

Six patients have been admitted to the new centre andtheir condition is said to be stable.

"The COVID-19 speciality centre at the Kasaragod MedicalCollege has started its operation. It took four days tocomplete the conversion of the medical college block intoCOVID-19 treatment centre," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayanhad said on Monday.

Though a full-fledged Medical College hospital atnearby Ukkinadukka, conceived in 2013, is yet to become areality, an unfinished block there has now been transformed inlightning speed to a speciality centre to treat coronaviruspatients.

Kasaragod, the northermost tip of Kerala, is largelydependent on Mangaluru in Karnataka for most of its medicalneeds.

A 26-member expert team from Thiruvananthapuram, onMonday visited the facility to review and plan modalities onsetting up ties including ventilators.

"We have admitted six patients in the hospital. Allpatients are stable. So satisfied that our team was reallyuseful at Kasaragod," Dr S S Santhosh Kumar, who led the teamfrom Thiruvananthapuram, said in a Facebook post.

The construction of the medical college hospital withfour blocks have been progressing at a snail's pace since itsfoundation stone was laid in 2013.

With the coronavirus scare coupled with Karanatakaclosing its borders even for the critically ill, prompted theauthorities come up with a solution to make use of the portionof the medical college hospital for treating coronaviruspatients, who were hitherto being admitted to isolation wardsat the district and general hospitals.

District Medical Officer (Health) Dr Ramadas said theyhave arranged 100 beds, besides few ICUs to cater to Covid-19patients at the new facility.

It has a capacity to house as many as 400 patients, hesaid. COR RRT UDROH ROH