Arya News - Government hospitals in Delhi have been directed to maintain at least five isolation beds to accommodate patients with influenza and/or vector-borne diseases, Health Department officials said on Wednesday. Larger hospitals were required to keep 10 or more isolation beds.
NEW DELHI – Amid rising swine flu cases, government hospitals in Delhi have been directed to maintain at least five isolation beds to accommodate patients with influenza and/or vector-borne diseases, Health Department officials said on Wednesday.
The directions came during a Health Department meeting chaired by Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh with the Medical Directors (MDs) and Medical Superintendents (MSs) of various Delhi government hospitals to review preparedness for H1N1, seasonal influenza and related respiratory illnesses.
Larger hospitals were required to keep 10 or more isolation beds, according to an official statement.
The minister instructed the hospitals to establish Flu Corners in emergency departments, with Senior Residents deployed for emergency duty. Suspected patients should be promptly assessed and, wherever clinically indicated, swab samples collected and sent for testing, he added.
As many as 138 H1N1 cases were reported in Delhi in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative number of H1N1 cases in Delhi to 2,446 in 2026. The cumulative number of Influenza-A cases in Delhi stood at 3,177, health officials noted.
Appealing to the citizens to remain vigilant but not panic, the minister emphasised the importance of respiratory hygiene, appropriate mask use, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and avoiding unnecessary exposure to crowded places, particularly when symptomatic.
The Health Department noted that citizens experiencing influenza-like symptoms, especially those belonging to vulnerable groups, have been advised to seek medical advice promptly and avoid self-medication.