There will be no more restrictions in the city as the situation is under control, even though COVID-19 cases crossed the 20,000 mark on Thursday, according to Municipal Commissioner I S Chahal. The BMC has also decided to allow admission only of symptomatic patients with an oxygen level below 93 per cent or those with serious comorbidity, and this will vacate 80 per cent beds  across hospitals in the next 3-4 days. Cases may increase to 35,000 to 40,000 within the next week but as the hospitalisation is on the lower side, there is no need to panic, added Chahal. The BMC has decided to apply guidelines set by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for home isolation.

According to the new guidelines, only symptomatic patients with an oxygen level below 93 per cent or with serious comorbidity will get admission in hospitals. This will vacate almost 80 per cent of beds across all hospitals within the next 3 to 4 days,” said Chahal. On Thursday, he gave instructions about the same to war room and hospital authorities. Chahal said currently 85 per cent of patients are of the Omicron variant and by next week it will completely take over the Delta variant, which will further reduce the hospitalisation.