Coimbatore: The two Covid-19 care centres at Athipalayam and Allikulam, inaugurated by minister for food and civil supplies R Sakkarapani on May 31, are yet to be operational as the health department has not appointed doctors and nurses there.The centres would have been a boon for Covid patients in the Annur taluk, from where 150 cases are reported a day.
As many as 60 people had succumbed to the viral disease.
Residents are now forced to seek treatment in faraway Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, Mettupalayam Government Hospital, Covid care centres at Saravanampatti, Mathampalayam or Karamadai.When caseload began to rise again in the taluk, the health department set up a 250-bed Covid care centre at Sri Ranganathar Institute of Engineering and Technology at Athipalayam and a 150-bed facility at Nava Bharath National School at Allikulam.
The health minister inaugurated the facilities on Monday.
The centres have fans, water heaters and water purifiers, but no doctors and nurses.The health department is struggling to find doctors and nurses, an official told TOI.
“We will appoint staff at the centres soon,” he added.