New Delhi, Jun 5 (IANS): The Delhi government on Thursday directed five of its dedicated Covid hospitals to upgrade beds, after the cases in the national capital started increasing at a rapid rate.

In an order, Health and Family Welfare Secretary Padmini Singla said it has been observed that there has been a surge in the number of positive cases of Covid-19 in the last one week, and this has resulted in additional demand for beds in hospitals in isolation wards as well in the ICU.

"It is decided to manage designated Covid-19 Hospital by providing 'near to ICU bed facilities' on most of the beds of the designated Covid Hospitals in phased manner. The beds in the Hospitals are required to be categorised in five categories at all dedicated Covid Hospitals," the order said.

'Level 4 Beds' are to be equipped with a ventilator, 'Level 3 Beds' equipped with HFNO machine for oxygen supply at over 50 litres/minute, 'Level 2 Beds' equipped with oxygen supply at 10-15 litres/minute, 'Level 1 Beds' -- equipped with normal oxygen supply upto 5 litres/minute, and 'Level 0 Beds'-- recovery or observation beds, the ordinary hospital beds.

"Medical Director/Directors of all designated Covid Hospitals are directed to upgrade Beds at their Hospital to the Levels in accordance with the schedule mentioned," the order said, which suggested three phases for upgradation.

The phase 1, 2 and 3 of upgradation of levels of beds are required to be achieved by the Hospitals within a week, two weeks, and three weeks, respectively.

The five dedicated hospitals are Lok Nayak Hospital (2,000 beds), Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital (850 beds), G.T.B. Hospital (1,500 beds), Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital (200 beds) and Satyavadi Raja Harish Chander Hospital (200 beds).

The coronavirus cases in the national capital witnessed a jump of 1,359 cases in a day, taking the total tally to 25,004 and the death toll has reached 650, the Delhi Health Department said on Thursday.