Mumbai to get 3 jumbo COVID hospitals, BMC to convert hotels into COVID centres
Shortage of beds of all kinds – normal, oxygen, ICU and ventilator – is a major issue that Mumbai is witnessing for over a fortnight’s time after the second wave hit the city.
FollowAs Covid-19 cases in Mumbai hover at the level of around 9,000 to 10,000 per day, the Maharashtra government and BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to set up three jumbo field hospitals in Mumbai in the next five-six weeks, said city civic chief Iqbal Singh Chahal on Monday.
Shortage of beds of all kinds – normal, oxygen, ICU and ventilator – is a major issue that Mumbai is witnessing for over a fortnight’s time after the second wave hit the city.
Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray on Monday took to Twitter and urged the citizens of the state to use the ward helplines of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
He has also shared documents where the civic body has given certain instructions on Nodal officers, Ward rooms, Covid patients, and especially on bed allotments.
"The following steps have been taken by the BMC acting upon my discussions with MC Iqbal Singh Chahal. I request everyone to use 1916 or ward helplines of BMC. Stay Home. Stay Safe."
In addition to this, the government has also requested certain four-star and five -star hotels to create CCC2 facilities (Covid-19 care centres for patients), which will be "dovetailed and run by professionals from major private hospitals".
The decision was taken to ensure availability of beds for the needy patients by shifting those who have recovered substantially to the CCC2 facilities, said Chahal.
As per the online bed allotment dashboard of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), there are 19,151 beds in 141 hospitals in Mumbai.
Out of the 19,151 beds, 3,777 beds in dedicated Covid-19 hospitals are currently vacant, Chahal said.
The BMC will operationalise 1,100 additional beds, including 125 ICU beds, in these medical facilities in the next seven days, he said.
Also, Nodal Officers shall be appointed for accurate and even more proactive functioning of 24 Ward War Rooms and jumbo field hospitals respectively.
On Sunday, Mumbai reported 9,986 new cases of the viral infection and 79 deaths, which took its caseload to 5,20,498 and death toll to 12,023.
At present, there are 92,464 active Covid-19 cases in the metropolis, as per official data.
