The Health Minister said an order would be issued today for private hospitals to increase their bed share from 50% to 80% for COVID-19 patients.
As the demand for oxygen is seeing a steady rise in the State, Health Minister K. Sudhakar, on April 24, said Karnataka would require over 1,400 tonnes of oxygen beginning May 1.
Pointing to the severity of the second wave, he said the new variants were posing a challenge to the medical fraternity. In this wave, propelled by what is being dubbed as the Indian variant, the demand for oxygen is far higher than in the first, he said.
“Even during the peak last year, we had used around 300 to 350 tonnes of oxygen. In the second wave, we have already used up 500 tonnes. It is estimated that we will require 1414 tonnes from May 1, which the Chief Minister has conveyed in yesterday’s meeting with the Prime Minister,” he said, speaking to reporters as the weekend lockdown kicked in in the State.
“The Spanish flu lasted two years and…