No shortage of beds in Mumbai for COVID-19 treatment, says BMC commissioner IS Chahal

But adds that COVID infection numbers could rise to 10k every day, as tests will be increased to 60k daily; past 48 days saw 85k cases

The hospital beds are fast filling with 76 per cent of total capacity already occupied, however, BMC commissioner IS Chahal has said there is no shortage of beds in Mumbai for COVID-19 treatment.

According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) records, about 85,000 positive cases were found in the past 48 days from February 10 to March 30. The municipal commissioner has said that the infection numbers are likely to go up to even 10,000 every day, as the tests done in the city would go up to 60,000 per day.

Of the 85,000 cases 69,500 patients were asymptomatic and kept in isolation at home. The remaining 15,500 patients developed symptoms but only around 8,000 of them had to be admitted to  hospital. Others had mild symptoms and were treated by medication. 

Beds being increased

While assuring that the process of increasing the total number of beds as per the requirement is in full swing, Chahal said, “The beds occupancy currently is about 9,900, out of which 8,400 are from Mumbai jurisdiction while 1,500 are from MMR. On February 10 the occupancy was 3,500. So technically in the city only about 5,000 beds were needed in the past 48 days and so the citizens should not panic as sufficient infrastructure is available.”

At present there are over 3,000 vacant beds and the BMC will add 2,269 COVID beds in private hospitals that also include 360 ICUs, with immediate effect. The BMC will also have an additional 1,500 beds in Jumbo field hospitals this week to take vacant beds to approximately 7,000 by this weekend. According to the civic body’s dashboard, the status of beds as per March 30 was 12,906 capacity, 9,853 occupancy and 3,053 vacant beds at various dedicated COVID hospitals, dedicated COVID health centers and Jumbo field hospitals..

“Considering Jumbo Centers alone the total capacity is 9,000 beds. All the government and private hospitals will have more than 20,000 beds in Mumbai and these beds are ready. They are to be utilised step-by-step as per the demand and not all at once,” said Chahal.

‘Citizens must support’

While addressing the media on Tuesday, Chahal further said that the number of COVID tests has been increased. “It is possible to find a large number of infected patients, segregate them in time and provide proper treatment. The number of tests will soon be 60,000 per day and the number of infected people can be as high as 10,000 per day. Of these, the number of people in need of a bed will be relatively small given the current situation,” he said.

He said, “The administration and the government are trying their best to curb the growing number of patients, but they need the full support of citizens. Mumbai is currently under curfew. In the next few days, the future plan will be decided by looking at the situation.”

9,853
No. of beds occupied in the city as per March 30

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