215 railway stations identified for deployment of isolation coaches, to be used as ‘COVID Care Centres’

The government has reserved 215 railway stations for the deployment of railways’ isolation coaches to be used as ‘COVID Care Centres’ for suspected as well as confirmed patients categorised as mild or very mild cases.

“The special train coaches, after formation, shall be cleaned, and disinfected as per protocol for disinfection of quarantine facilities issued by Ministry of Health and Family welfare,” the health ministry said. These will be used only for suspected and confirmed (Very Mild and Mild) cases.

The special train coaches will be deployed across 23 states and union territories of the country, according to a health ministry document.

The development comes as the number of Covid-19 cases has been increasing rapidly in the country. As per the Health Ministry’s latest data, the Covid-19 cases in the country has surged to around 53,000, while the death toll has increased to over 1,780.

“Considering the possibility of increase in cases of COVID-19, a view is taken to utilize Railway coaches for COVID care centre,” the guidance document issued by the Health Ministry on Thursday (7 May) said.

According to the Health Ministry’s ‘guidance document on appropriate management of suspect/ confirmed cases of COVID-19: Railway Coaches – COVID Care Centre’, the patients lodged in the coaches will be observed for their symptoms and clinical condition.

In case of change of the symptoms or clinical conditions, the patients would be referred to the designated centre or hospital for further management, the document stated.

Read the documents here:

As per the document, separate coaches for the suspect and confirmed cases should be ensured to avoid cross-infection. The coaches will be deployed across all major Covid-19 hotspots in India and will cover both the big cities as well as rural areas.

The list of stations where the train coaches will be deployed include areas that are currently in the ‘green’ zones as well as a large number ‘orange’ zone areas. “The state government shall map at least one COVID Dedicated Hospital for each train so that patient can be shifted to the hospital in case of emergency,” the guidelines said.

The food, linen and oxygen facilities in the coach will be provided by the Railways, according to the document. “Railway Protection Force shall ensure suitable security to the coaches, patients and staff working there,” the document added.

Proper signages shall be placed outside railway stations, platforms and near location of coaches to guide authorities and patients to the coaches in a way that they are separate from the general public using the railway facilities, the guidelines said.