Will follow Centre's orders on corona cure: Kejriwal

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said that he will obey the orders of Lt Governor Anil Baijal on the treatment in Delhi hospitals. He categorically said that outsiders will also be treated in state-run hospitals without question. "This is not the time for politics. This is not the time for disagreements," the Chief Minister asserted in his first online statement since he went into self-isolation suspecting a COVID-19 infection. Later he tested negative for the virus.

On Monday, the Lt Governor, who represents the Centre, cancelled the Kejriwal government's decision to reserve hospitals except those run by the Centre for residents of Delhi. He also reversed a decision to test only those showing symptoms of COVID-19 and said asymptomatic cases and high-risk contacts of a virus patient will also be tested. "If political parties keep fighting, corona will win. The entire country has to be united in its fight. You cannot even imagine the crisis we are in."

Kejriwal said it would be a huge challenge to provide hospital beds for COVID-19 treatment, given his government's worrying estimate of how virus cases will rise by July and the corresponding demand for beds.

From the doubling rate of infection, the Delhi government assesses that by June 15 there will be 44,000 cases, by June 30 there will be one lakh cases, 2.25 lakh cases by July 15 and 5.5 lakh by July 31. "It is a huge and unprecedented challenge. By July 15 Delhi will need 33,000 beds, and if we include those seeking treatment from outside the city, we will need 65,000. By July 31, we will need a total of 1.5 lakh beds," said Kejriwal.

"I will get started on this and go to stadiums, banquet halls and hotels to make arrangements. We will try everything, do whatever we can to ensure enough hospital beds in Delhi," the Chief Minister pledged.