New Delhi, May 30 (IANS): The Delhi government on Saturday directed the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital here to convert 1,500 beds by June 2 for the treatment of coronavirus patients, making it a dedicated health facility for treating the infection.

In an order issued on May 30, Padmini Singla, Secretary Health and Family Welfare Department, partially modified an order of Friday which asked the hospital to convert 500 beds by June 2.

"To augment further the availability of beds in designated COVID hospitals of Delhi government, it has been decided to declare GTB Hospital as designated COVID hospital with its full bed capacity of 1,500 beds," the order said.

"The admitted general patients may be shifted to nearby Delhi government hospitals and patients requiring specialised treatment to private hospitals. The bills of private hospitals shall be paid by the Delhi Government at Delhi Aarogya Kosh (DAK) rates," it added.

This order was issued with the approval of the Delhi Health Minister, who also visited the hospital on Saturday.

The total coronavirus cases in the city crossed 18,000 mark on Saturday.