As Karnataka continues to reel under the weight of new COVID cases and related fatalities, a complete lockdown has been announced across the state to break the chain of COVID transmission. The state faces an acute shortage of oxygenated beds in hospitals to treat COVID patients, a challenge that has resulted in many deaths. Amid the gloomy situation, there's some relief for COVID patients at last.
The aerospace major Boeing has made a generous offer to set up two 200 oxygenated bed hospitals in Karnataka for the treatment of COVID patients. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday announced that the 200-bed COVID care facilities will be set up in Yelahanka (Bengaluru) and Kalaburgi.
![Karnataka to get two 200 oxygenated bed hospitals from Boeing for COVID patients [details]](https://data1.ibtimes.co.in/en/full/760842/karnataka-get-two-200-oxygenated-bed-hospitals-boeing-covid-patients-details.jpg?h=450&l=50&t=40)
"Thanks Boeing India for coming forward to set up two 200 oxygenated bed hospitals in Karnataka for treating COVID-19 cases. Yelahanka (Bengaluru) & Kalaburgi. The latter also to serve Bidar, Belgaum & Raichur. The nodal officers appointed by CM Yediyurappa would expedite the process," Sitharaman tweeted.
Request for second COVID care facility in Kalaburgi
Sitharaman also shared a copy of Yediyurappa's letter requesting Boeing to set up a second COVID care facility with 250 oxygen beds at Kalaburgi, which is crucial for serving COVID patients in adjoining districts. With Sitharaman's announcement, the second facility is also a go.
Following the announcement, Karnataka Deputy CM Dr Ashwathnarayan applauded the effort and assured of ramping up the health infrastructure across the state.
![Karnataka to get two 200 oxygenated bed hospitals from Boeing for COVID patients [details]](https://data1.ibtimes.co.in/en/full/760843/karnataka-get-two-200-oxygenated-bed-hospitals-boeing-covid-patients-details.png?w=595&h=329&l=50&t=40)
Many netizens thanked Boeing for its generous contribution at such trying times.
![Karnataka to get two 200 oxygenated bed hospitals from Boeing for COVID patients [details]](https://data1.ibtimes.co.in/en/full/760844/karnataka-get-two-200-oxygenated-bed-hospitals-boeing-covid-patients-details.png?w=590)
![Karnataka to get two 200 oxygenated bed hospitals from Boeing for COVID patients [details]](https://data1.ibtimes.co.in/en/full/760845/karnataka-get-two-200-oxygenated-bed-hospitals-boeing-covid-patients-details.png?w=590)
Karnataka has been one of the worst-hit states by the second wave of the COVID-19. On Thursday, a record 49,058 new Covid cases, including 23,706 in Bengaluru were registered in a day across Karnataka while 328 patients succumbed to the virus, the state health bulletin revealed. A day before, Bengaluru reported 23,706 fresh cases on Wednesday, taking its Covid tally to 8,87,086, including 3,32,732 active cases while 5,47,208 recovered so far.
