Covid-19 scare: SCR to add 1,000 more beds to its isolation wards

HYDERABAD: Around 1,000 beds are being identified by the South Central Railway (SCR) in railway hospitals, training institutes, and Railway Protection Force (RPF) barracks for accommodating suspected Covid-19 patients.
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"So far, quarantine facilities have been set up with 1,019 beds at 27 locations across all six divisions of Secunderabad zone, including Hyderabad, Nanded, Guntur, Guntakal and Vijayawada," read an official statement from the South Central Railway .
Passengers with symptoms will be admitted to these hospitals and later if found positive will be shifted to Gandhi hospital, an official said.
Meanwhile, blankets have been discontinued in all air-conditioned coaches and those which are being availed by passengers are being thoroughly washed and disinfected.
"All curtains have been removed from AC coaches with immediate effect and blankets will be discontinued in all AC 2 and 3 tier coaches. The minimum temperature in these coaches will be set around 25°C," chief public relations officer of SCR, Ch Rakesh said.
"Cleaning of coaches including toilets and pantry cars along with proper disinfection at prescribed frequencies are being done. At Secunderabad, Vijayawada, Renigunta, and Guntakal have been designated as Clean Train Stations (CTS)," he added.
Station premises including waiting halls, seats, grab rails, hand rests, toilets, water troughs and all other areas from where the virus can spread are being cleaned regularly, said SCR authorities.
Officials are also planning to close all waiting halls as they are frequented by numerous passengers.
The railway and health officials have jointly set up helpdesks across railway stations to answer all queries regarding the novel coronavirus.