Bed strength, vaccination pace being enhanced in Mumbai and MMR

With the rising number of Covid-19 cases in India, Maharashtra is taking measures to strengthen its bed count and beef up the vaccination drive in the state.

Over the last few days, Mumbai has reported over 3,000 cases on average while the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) has 6,000-plus cases.

The MMR comprises the twin districts of Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban and larger parts of the neighbouring Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts.

In Mumbai, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has activated its jumbo field hospitals and kept them ready.

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In the next two weeks, the BMC plans to increase up to 20,000 beds in Dedicated Covid Hospitals (DCH) and Dedicated Covid Health Centre (DCHC) and up to 50,000 beds in Covid Care Centre 1 (CCC1) and Covid Care Centre 2 (CCC2).

As of now, the BMC has 13,002 beds in DCHs, DCHCs and jumbo field hospitals for serious, moderate and complicated cases. The state now has over 25,000 CCC2 beds. Besides, here are 1,544 ICU beds, 966 ventilator beds and 8,814 oxygen beds.

Over the last fortnight, besides Mumbai and the neighbouring municipal corporations of Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan Dombivli, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Panvel, Mira-Bhayander and Vasai-Virar have reported more cases — making the Mumbai-MMR a hotspot yet again.

In Mumbai, besides the RT-PCR tests, random RATs are being done in public places, malls, railway stations and bus depots.

“More than 85 per cent of the cases in Mumbai and in the state are asymptomatic. The majority of those infected are undergoing treatment at home and under quarantine. We have empty beds, but at the same time, the bed strength is being increased,” the state’s Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope said.

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In the MMR, the jump in the cases is mainly attributed to crowds in suburban local trains and civic and state transport buses as movement in these five districts has been high after normal work schedule was restored.

The Maharashtra government has ordered 50 per cent attendance in government and private offices except those in emergency, health and medical services.

Meanwhile, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has prohibited Holi celebrations. “All private and public celebration of Holika Dahan and Rang Panchami has been prohibited to ensure Covid-19 doesn’t play spoilsport,” the BMC said. The rest of the eight MMR municipal corporations are expected to follow suit.