Delhi's iconic Ramlila Maidan is now a 500-ICU bed facility

New Delhi : A temporary 500-ICU bed facility has been setup at the iconic Ramlila Maidan to accommodate critically ill patients during the second wave of coronavirus, said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Friday. The massive facility has been developed in just 15 days.

On Saturday, 250 ICU beds will be made functional, the rest 250 beds will come to operation after two days, Mr Kejriwal said after visiting the facility on Friday.

"I salute our docs, engineers and workers who worked round the clock on war footing and constructed these 500 ICU beds in just 15 days at Ramlila maidan opp LNJP hospital. 250 ICU beds start tomo and 250 in next two days," tweeted Mr Kejriwal.

On Friday, Delhi recorded around 8500 fresh coronavirus cases, this is the first time when daily count has dropped below 10,000 since April 10. The city's test positivity rate has also dipped to 12 per cent.

Around 3,000 beds have cleared up in the past 10 days, he said, indicating that the second wave was easing in the city.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Kejriwal said there will be no shortage of ICU or oxygen beds in Delhi after opening of a 500-bed facility at the city's Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.

"Coronavirus cases are going down in Delhi... so is the second wave. With your co-operation the lockdown was successful and we've increased the number of oxygen beds in the past few days. Yesterday we set up 500 new ICU beds near GTB Hospital," the Chief Minister said.

"Now there is no shortage of ICU and oxygen beds in Delhi," he added.