The rising number of Covid-19 cases has prompted Dhanbad authorities to develop a 400-bed dedicated care centre at the Patliputra Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) at Saraidhela.

Once ready, the care centre -- housed in two of the three blocks of the PMCH’s PG hospital -- will be one of the biggest in the district.

Dhanbad subdivisional officer Raj Maheswaram said work was already underway and the facility is likely to be ready by next week.

PMCH superintendent Arun Kumar Chaudhary said two of three blocks of the PG hospital, including one block comprising the medicine and paediatrics departments and another block consisting of the ENT and eye departments, were being developed as the Covid-19 treatment center. The third block will be kept reserved for future use.

Chaudhary added that a team led by the subdivisional officer, which included civil surgeon Gopal Das, visited PMCH on August 23 and identified the two blocks for use as a dedicated Covid-19 health centre meant for the treatment of asymptomatic patients or those with mild symptoms.

Besides PMCH, the district administration also explored the possibility of establishing a Covid-19 treatment centre at the FCI hospital at Sindri, which has been non-functional since 2002. However, as the condition of the hospital is poor, its immediate use seems unlikely.

Currently, there are seven Covid-19 treatment centres in the district, including one 100-bed facility and six dedicated Covid-19 hospitals.

Doctors’ rooms at the newly constructed Covid Centre at Saraidhela in Dhanbad. Gautam Dey

Of the six dedicated Covid-19 health centers, one 200-bed center is operational at the Government Polytechnic, Nirsa, in Gopalpur. Among the three 100-bed centres, two units are operational at the Railway Zonal Training Institute at Bhuli and PMCH cath lab.

Two 50-bed units have been established at the regional hospital at Bhuli and the Sadar hospital in Dhanbad. A 25-bed dedicated Covid-19 health centre is open at Tata Central Hospital at Jamadoba.

The district administration has also established a telemedicine centre at the circuit house in Dhanbad. Deputy commissioner Uma Shankar Singh recently conducted a review of the medical counselling work being carried out at the telemedicine center where focus is also being laid on mental counselling of patients.

Thirty-two people were discharged from the Zonal Training Institute after being cured of Covid-19 on Thursday. The discharged persons were instructed to remain at home for 14 days.