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Bengaluru, Jul 6: A video clip of a Bengaluru-based doctor urging the follow doctors to return to their duty at a time when medicos are desperately needed to fight against COVID-19 has busted the myth of ‘shortage of beds’ in the hospitals. 

In past few of weeks, dozens of people in Bengaluru have lost their lives after hospital denied them admission citing lack of beds. 

Dr Taha Mateen, Managing Director of HBS Hospital, in an emotional message, appealed to healthcare professionals, including doctors, to help handle the situation better. The video has gone viral on social media.

“I speak from the ICU of HBS Hospital. It’s been a virtual bloodbath. I came in the morning at like 7:30 in the morning and its 12’o’clock midnight right now. Patients are continuously calling me now ‘cause their fathers are breathless, their brothers are breathless and they cannot find a room in Bengaluru and at this time if you see there is one Mr Shiva and me. There is no other doctor willing to work in this hospital,” Dr Mateen says in the video.

Dr Mateen further said, "I have beds, I have oxygen beds, I have ventilators, I have all the equipment. I have another 30 beds like this but I don’t have doctors working here.” He said that there is an urgent need to mobilise healthcare staff.

Sources said the COVID-19 patients at the hospital are left with only five doctors and 12 nurses. Until recently, the HBS Hospital had 20 nurses and 44 doctors on its roll.

According to a report, the hospital is facing huge difficulties in treating patients admitted at Intensive Care Units (ICU). Eight patients with severe respiratory problems are admitted to the hospital and are waiting for their COVID-19 test results.

"We have sufficient beds at the hospital to treat coronavirus patients, but we don't have doctors. And we can't admit more patients as we are left with just five doctors, said Dr Taha Mateen.

"All doctors are on WhatsApp, I request all doctors to come out and perform their duties, Dr Mateen said in a video appeal on WhatsApp, Twitter and Instagram. 

According to Dr Mateen, a COVID-19 patient, who was admitted to COVID care centre at Haj  Bhavan, was abandoned on a road by an ambulance driver. Later, the patient was picked by NGO volunteers. 

"The patient was brought to HBS Hospital at 2 am. He had a very low blood oxygen level. We stabilised his condition. Later, we had to send him home as we don't have enough staff to take care of him. We also sent an oxygen cylinder to his home," a report quoted Dr Mateen as saying.

Bhatkal, Mar 24: Two people, who arrived from Dubai at Mangaluru International Airport on March 21, were tested positive for coronavirus.

A 40-year-old man has been tested positive for the dreaded killer disease Covid-19 while 65-year-old man, who arrived on same day from Dubai, has also been tested positive for the virus. The person reportedly took train from Mangaluru to Bhatkal after arriving at Mangaluru International Airport.

Both of them hailed from Bhatkal and are currently hospitalised and their direct contacts are being traced by the authorities.

Bengaluru, Apr 20: The cumulative positive cases of COVID-19 in Karnataka stand at 408, including 16 deaths and 112 people discharged.

Karnataka's Department of Health and Family Welfare in a media bulletin said: "As of 5 pm on April 20, cumulatively 408 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state. It includes 16 deaths and 112 discharges."

Out of the remaining 280 cases, 278 COVID-19 positive patients including one pregnant woman in isolation at designated hospitals are stable, and two are in ICU, added Health and Family Welfare Department.

"18 new cases have been confirmed for COVID-19 in the State from Sunday 5 pm to Monday at 5 pm," added the department.