Bengaluru, Jun 27 (IANS): Karnataka government is working towards arranging 10,000 beds for COVID-19 patients in the state capital by Monday evening, said a minister on Saturday.

"The process of identifying both government and private facilities necessary for the treatment of COVID-19 patients is being undertaken. The officials are personally visiting all suitable places and gathering information," said Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar.

After a video conference with senior officials, he said the government is identifying private hospitals, housing complexes built by the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA), housing department, private construction companies, government and private sports complexes to create facilities for the patients infected with the deadly virus.

Other facilities being explored included stadiums, hostels and large commercial complexes. Based on their suitability, they will be converted into either Covid Care Centres (CCC) or hospitals. Besides, facilities where ventilators, high flow oxygen lines and other requirements are available will be converted into hospitals.

Since a week, 30-35 per cent infected cases are exhibiting symptoms and experts have been directed to identify asymptomatic cases as mild, moderate and severe to prepare treatment protocols

"Since CCCs do not require many facilities, the multi-storeyed residential apartment complexes built by BDA and housing department will be utilized. BDA has around 1,700 flats. BDA commissioner Mahadev will inform the exact number of flats available for use on Monday," he said.

Similarly, the government is also looking at using 3,000 flats in private residential complexes registered under the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA).

To meet the 10,000 beds target, information is also being collected on stadiums, sports complexes, hostels and large commercial complexes under the sports department and private entities

Meanwhile, Sudhakar said the rise in symptomatic cases could be due to the sudden change in the weather and onset of monsoon.

However, he assured the people that death rate in Covid cases is lesser, compared to other viruses.

"Therefore, people need not panic. Government is taking all measures to contain the spread of the virus and provide best treatment to the infected. People's cooperation is necessary at this stage," said the minister.

On Friday also, Sudhakar held a video conference with the health department, civic body and health officials and asked them to ensure a nurse for every three patients in ICU and high oxygen flow wards.

If there is a shortage of staff, he asked them to recruit people and until then deploy final year students from government and private medical colleges.

He also instructed the officials to deploy tele-ICU at Victoria, Bowring and Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases hospitals.

According to Sudhakar, Bengaluru has been exceptional in Covid management.

"As on Jun 25, there are 1.92 lakh Covid cases and 7,417 deaths in five most populous cities of India. With 1,798 cases and 78 deaths, Bengaluru constitutes just 0.9 per cent of the total cases and 1 per cent of the total deaths among five large cities," he added.