The civic body is on alert and the municipal commissioner has asked officials to increase testing on a war footing and focus on vaccination; jumbo Covid care centres will be put on alert
The Malad Jumbo COVID Care Centre is especially to be on alert as the Dahisar and Goregaon jumbo centres have been shut. File pic
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.
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“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.
In the meeting, Chahal said, “New COVID cases have risen tremendously in Mumbai, and with monsoon around the corner, we will now see a rapid rise in symptomatic cases. There should be an increase in testing immediately on a war footing. Testing labs should be told to be proactive and fully staffed. Vaccination drive in 12-18 years category and booster doses must be focused on. Jumbo field hospitals must be kept adequately staffed and on alert. Assistant Commissioners in charge of wards must review the status of ward war rooms to ensure they are fully equipped with staff, medical teams and ambulances.”
AMCs have been asked to visit jumbo hospitals in their jurisdictions to ensure they are also monsoon ready with de-watering pumps, structural stability certifications, fire safety mechanisms, etc. The BMC will be ready with 23,000 beds in COVID care centres in 2-3 days if needed. “The BKC, Sion, Byculla, Mulund and Worli COVID care centers are functional. The total number of active patients is 2,970. At least 102 patients are admitted and only 3 are critical,” said an official.
Chahal also said private hospitals must be on alert. Private hospital coordinator Dr Gautam Bhansali said, “The municipal commissioner also emphasised more testing and asked private hospitals to be ready to admit COVID patients. At present, there are 2,600 beds reserved for COVID patients in private hospitals and only 12 patients are admitted. As of now, we don’t expect more admissions but will take precautions and be prepared.”
Dr Prashant Mishra, dean of the Malad jumbo center said, “As per instructions we have started our preparations and within a week we will be ready to admit patients.”
Cases on the rise in Dharavi
Dharavi is once again witnessing the surge in COVID-19 cases. On Wednesday, 10 new COVID patients were reported in the area, as per the data shared by BMC officials. This takes the total active patient count in Dharavi to 37. Locals and BMC were relieved after the third wave when the slum area didn’t report any new cases. However, on May 4, one person tested positive. After that, May 22, four new cases were reported and now on Wednesday 10 residents tested positive
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