Thane civic chief asks officials to remain vigilant amid rising Covid-19 cases

Amid the rising coronavirus and influenza cases in Thane the cityrsquos civic body chief has asked the officials to remain vigilantThane Municipal Corporation commissioner Abhijit Bangar on Friday directed the officials to ensure that there is no shortage of isolation rooms beds oxygen system if needed doctors nurses medicines for patients affected by Covid19 in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj HospitalIn a review meeting the TMC chief asked health officials to increase the number of antigen tests in public places as well as crowded places such as markets and railway stationsBangar said that six cases of of H3N2 influenza have been detected in ThaneldquoSix patients of H3N2 influenza have also been found with symptoms similar to Covid19 such as sore throat runny or stuffy nose fever fatiguerdquo he saidBangar advised the residents to get necessary tests done if such symptoms are found In order to curb the spread of coronavirus the civic body has started daily Covid19 testing facilities at all the civic health centresBangar said that 85 patients have been found to be infected with Covid in Thane municipal limits between March 1 and March 16 Out of 85 cases 80 are active who are under home quarantine three are undergoing treatment at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital and two are undergoing treatment at a private hospitalHe also said that the symptoms of the patients who are under home quarantine are mildMeanwhile Kharegaon has 15 Covid19 cases and Mumbra has 10 cases The TMC chief instructed officials to increase the number of tests so that maximum number of citizens will be tested in both the areasAmid rising Covid19 cases the civic body has created a 15bed isolation ward at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital for patients who have only one toilet at home and no separate accommodation And five beds are kept for the ICUAlso readJournalist Shashikant Warishe was brutally killed in orchestrated accident Maha Dy CM FadnavisldquoIf the number of patients increase then arrangements of beds isolation arrangements should be made immediately Daily tests should be increased to 2500 and RTPCR tests should also be continued effectivelyrdquo Bangar said in the review meeting with civic and health officialsIn order to avoid inconvenience to the Covid19 patients Bangar directed officials to keep 24X7 ambulances available to take coronavirus positive patients to Chhatrapati Shivaji Hospital for treatmentldquoHelp desk should be set up to inform the relatives about the patient after admission In future the number of antigen tests should be increased and the number of antigen kits should also be increased accordinglyrdquo he saidThe TMC chief further said that if any of the Covid19 patients require dialysis the facilities of the dialysis machine should be provided in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital He also instructed that the dialysis machine at the parking plaza should be shifted to Kalwa HospitalBangar urged families of Covid19 positive patients to cooperate with the civic body to curb the spread of the infectionldquoAntigen and RTPCR tests of the patients family should be done on priority basis and also of the persons who came in contact with Covid19 positive patientsrdquo Bangar told officials