The state government on Tuesday decided to convert the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital into a dedicated hospital to treat patients infected with Covid-19.

The decision has been taken as part of the government’s effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus in Bengal, a health department official said.

“We still don’t know the number of people who have come in contact with those who have tested positive and may be carrying the virus asymptomatically. These patients might start showing symptoms within weeks.”

The College Street hospital has 2,200 beds.

It has been decided that this number will be scaled up to 3,000 and all the beds will be reserved for coronavirus patients.

“This will be the first medical college dedicated to coronavirus patients in Bengal,” the health department official said.

Sources said the process of removing patients from the various wards of the hospital began on Tuesday, soon after health department officials “agreed on the decision unanimously”.

Only those admitted to ICU and CCU will be allowed to stay before being shifted to other medical colleges.

Rest of the patients will either be sent home or shifted to other hospitals, according to the health department.

To begin with, the hospital’s superspeciality building will be readied for 300 patients. Admissions to this unit will start on Saturday.

In the next step, 500 beds will be accommodated in the new boys hostel, an eight-storey building.

“The chief minister has been informed about the decision,” a senior doctor at the hospital said.