The Delhi High Court on Thursday permitted the enforcement of the reservation of 80% of ICU beds for COVID-19 patients in 33 private hospitals, saying the situation in Delhi is fairly dynamic and coronavirus cases are increasing.

A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad allowed the appeal of Delhi government challenging a single judge’s interim order staying the government’s decision to reserve 80% ICU beds.

The high court listed the matter for further hearing on November 26 before the single bench and till then the reservation of 80% of ICU beds will continue.

The high court was hearing a plea by the Delhi government urging it to empower it to enforce reservation of 80% of ICU beds for COVID-19 patients in 33 private hospitals at least for 15 days in view of the rise in the number of cases.

Delhi on Wednesday recorded over 8,500 cases of coronavirus, the highest single-day spike ever, taking the state’s COVID-19 tally to 459,975.  A total of 85 new fatalities pushed the national capital’s death toll to 7,228. 

The High Court has pulled up the AAP government on Wednesday on increasing COVID-19 cases, asking it to file a status report on steps taken in the last two weeks to control the spread of COVID-19 in the national capital.