AMID the continuous monitoring of the increase in COVID-19 numbers, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray took stock of the situation on Tuesday and instructed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) officials to be prepared in case of a further surge in cases during a meeting. BMC officials claimed that they are prepared with a huge infrastructure in place and hardly 25 per cent beds occupied at activated facilities.

The chief minister asked the civic body to audit all its facilities including fire-fighting equipment, oxygen supply, medical necessities among others. The exercise has already been started by the BMC. Thackeray also asked the civic body to instil confidence among citizens regarding why wearing a mask is a good thing. Instructions were also given to keep infrastructure ready as summer is nearing and diseases common in the season will also knock on hospitals’ doors and that the BMC should not be caught off guard.