The recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the city has put the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on alert. The municipal commissioner, who is also the administrator, has asked officials to ensure there is more testing and to focus on more vaccination of children and adolescents. Jumbo COVID care centers will also be on alert, especially the Malad jumbo centre because it is the only one to cater to north Mumbai patients after the closure of the Dahisar and Goregaon jumbo centres. The BMC will be ready with over 20,000 beds in COVID care centres soon if needed.

“There has been a constant increase in new COVID cases over the past two weeks. On Tuesday the city reported 506 new cases, out of which only 17 needed hospitalisation. Though the hospitalisation figures are small, the BMC doesn’t want to take chances,” said a senior BMC health official. On Tuesday, Municipal Commissioner I S Chahal held a meeting over the issue, at which an additional municipal commissioner (AMC), deputy municipal commissioner, and private hospital representatives were present.