All Karnataka districts hospitals caring for moderate to severe COVID-19 patients have been ordered to install oxygen therapy facilities, following the gas finding requirement in managing such cases, an official said on April 17.

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"As per the guidelines issued by Government of India, for clinical management of moderate to severe COVID cases, oxygen therapy has been found to be important requirement," said the Additional Chief Secretary, health department.

He has ordered that all hospital beds earmarked for treating moderate to severe COVID cases in dedicated COVID hospitals and healthcare centres in the districts to install facilities to deliver high pressure oxygen, compressed air for ICU beds and central suction facility. "This is applicable in both the situations where the facilities have either liquid oxygen plant or central manifold for oxygen supply," he said.

According to the Additional Chief Secretary thus, all the hospitals which are having oxygen supply through the above mechanisms, it shall be ensured that the high pressure oxygen supply, compressed air and suction are uninterrupted for wards and ICU beds," he said. The district deputy commissioners have been directed to take necessary action whose expenditure can be borne from the SDRF/NHM funds.