East Singhbhum health authorities have decided to convert the sprawling JRD Tata Sports Complex in Bistupur into a Covid care centre at a time when over 2,000 patients are currently admitted across treatment facilities and 600 patients are being treated at home.

"The district administration, in consultation with Tata Steel, is exploring options to see if Covid patients can be accommodated in the halls within the sports complex or in separate tents inside the sports facility,” said East Singhbhum district civil surgeon, R.N. Jha.

He, however, stressed that they would finalise all the nitty-gritty soon.

The district civil surgeon revealed that cases were being reported from lanes and bylanes of the steel city, and that they apprehend a steady increase in numbers in days to come.

"As the number of Covid cases is expected to rise in the near future, we are making preparations. Turning JRD Tata Sports Complex into a Covid case centre is part of this preparation,” he said, adding that a three-member central team was likely to visit the steel city for a survey.

Jha said Covid patients accommodated at the stadium would be provided with similar medical facilities as in a hospital. "Patients lodged at the JRD Tata Sports Complex will not only get medicines and food, besides a bed, but will also be looked after by health workers, including the nurses, in three shifts round-the-clock," the civil surgeon said.

On Wednesday, 228 new coronavirus cases were reported in East Singhbhum district, taking the total number to 7,634. Seven persons died of Covid-19 since Tuesday, taking the district toll to 213. As many as 5,061 people have recovered.

There are 2,360 active patients of whom 980 are admitted to Tata Main Hospital, 100 to MGM Medical College Hospital. The remaining patients are at Uma Superspeciality Hospital in Mango, St John's Hospital on NH-33 and Tata Motors Hospitals in Telco. Over 600 Covid patients are undergoing treatment at their homes as there is no bed for them in the hospitals.