Bengaluru,  The Karnataka government would soon use intensive care units (ICUs) built in mobile modular containers to facilitate treatment of COVID-19 patients in this tech city, a Minister said on Sunday.

"On a pilot basis, 10 modular container ICUs will soon be stationed at the state-run KC General Hospital in the city's northwest suburb for treating Covid patients," state Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan said here.

The containers, with 5 beds in each, have been donated by the city-based Rinac India Ltd, maker of sanitised operation theatres and clean rooms in state-run and private hospitals across the country.

"The container ICUs will enable us to fight the pandemic across the state as they are mobile and equipped with facilities required for Covid care," said Narayan, a medical doctor by profession, after inspecting one of them.

Doctors enter the containers through an air lock, while patients through another door. The ICUs are fitted with a camera to monitor the treatment online from a centralised station to minimise exposure of healthcare personal.

"The modular container ICUs will be very useful in times of crisis like Covid and other natural calamities due to their mobility and well-equipped facilities," said Narayan on the occasion.

The 40 feet (length) by 10 feet (width) and 8 feet (height) mobile ICUs have a toilet in each module, lights, fan/ac and a corridor.

"The prefabricated modules of 5-bed can be moved to any location on a trailer and deployed quickly," said Narayan.

Easy to clean and maintain, multiple containers at a specific location create a common facility.

"As modular containers are airtight, no moisture ingression makes it easy to isolate each room," added Narayan.

Of the 4,537 new cases reported on Saturday, Bengaluru accounted for 2,125, taking its Covid tally to 29,621, including 22,449 active after 6,540 were discharged so far, with 250 in the last 24 hours, while 631 succumbed to the virus, with 49 since Friday.