As high-footfall highway hotel at the trijunction of Mumbai, Thane and Vasai sees 21 staff members test positive, MBMC fast-tracks testing; but what about BMC and TMC?
After 21 staff members of the Express Inn Hotel tested positive, MBMC started testing in nearby areas including hotels and a petrol pump. The authorities have now sealed the hotel till March 4
In a worrying turn of events, a hotel in Ghodbunder that saw high footfall, was sealed by the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) on Sunday after 21 of its 91 staffers tested positive for COVID-19. While it was the hotel authorities who had decided to get the staffers tested as a precautionary measure, and informed the municipal corporation of the finding, MBMC started testing in the locality where six more people were found positive.
ADVERTISEMENT
It is a big task before the MBMC to trace the people who visited the hotel Express Inn in the past few days. It has fast-tracked testing, but will the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) learn a lesson from this?
On Sunday, MBMC sealed the hotel till March 4. At least 38 other staffers who are suspected to be infected, were sent to isolation centres.
On Saturday in Mira-Bhayandar, a total of 65 new cases of COVID-19 (including 21 at the hotel) were found and this is the highest number in the past few days. So far, every day Mira-Bhayandar had reported 10-20 new cases. Due to this MBMC has started testing people at crowded places.
A file picture of Mira-Bhayander residents being tested by MBMC employees. The corporation has started testing people in crowded places. Pic/Satej Shinde
Nodal officer speaks
Speaking to mid-day, the Health Department Nodal Officer Dr Santosh Pandey said, "We have admitted all the positive staff to the COVID Centre at Dahisar Check Naka. They all have a minor infection. We are collecting details from the hotel about who stayed there last week. However, it is impossible to trace visitors who probably only visited it for lunch. We also started testing at nearby hotels such as Fountain and Shelter, and petrol pump employees in the area. Yesterday we tested 231 people and found 6 positive."
The MBMC’s notice saying it has sealed hotel Express Inn
Hotel manager speaks
Hotel Express Inn Manager Alexander Dantis said, "As per the COVID-19 safety guidelines we have been regularly checking the oxygen level of visitors and also doing regular sanitisation of the premises. However, when we conducted tests on 91 staffers, and found 21 of them positive, it was really shocking for us. We immediately informed the MBMC about their report and closed the hotel. Due to the lockdown only 10-15 per cent people were coming to the hotel. MBMC has asked us for details of those who stayed at our hotel in the past few days and we will give them all the details."
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
