The state government on Thursday released a number of beds in several private hospitals that it had requisitioned to treat Covid patients.

The director of health services issued an order that provided a list of the beds that have been released and the number of beds that are still requisitioned.

“The rate of hospitalisation for Covid-19 is gradually coming down.... We have to make beds available for other patients,” said Ajay Chakraborty, the director of health services.

The hospitals where beds have been released include Desun Hospital and KPC Medical College in Calcutta; ILS Golabari, Narayana Hospital Old Building and West Bank Hospital in Howrah; and Sramajibi Hospital in Hooghly. The list did not include AMRI Salt Lake, where 66 beds were requisitioned.

Patients on requisitioned beds are treated for free. The hospitals sent bills to the government for reimbursement.