Karnataka: Helplines, isolation wards set up for coronavirus

Bengaluru: Isolation wards in hospitals across Karnataka and helpline to take calls on coronavirus-related queries are ready to prevent any further spread of the virus after the first case in India was reported from Kerala yesterday.

The Chief Secretary of the state government on Thursday held a meeting with the Additional Chief Secretary (Health), Health Commissioner, Mission Director of the National Health Mission and other health department officials and reviewed the state preparedness to tackle any cases of coronavirus whenever reported.

Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD) with 15 beds and Wenlock Hospital at Mangaluru with 10 beds have been selected for the treatment of the virus.

All district hospitals will have five beds isolated for patients carrying the virus. Along with this, at least ten private hospitals in Bengaluru will be setting up similar isolation wards.

The National Institute of Virology and the Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at the Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute have been roped in for the testing of the virus for the next few days.

104 Arogya Sahayavani helpline run by the Health Department will take all calls related to the virus.