In a major development, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to shut down more COVID-19 centres which were started for asymptomatic patients and high-risk contacts.
This decision is being attributed to not just the fall in cases, but also the reduction in the intensity of patients needing hospitalizations that had curtailed, claimed reports.
BMC additional commissioner Suresh Kakani stated that the occupancy number is very low and it is not necessary to operate all the centres. So, officials have asked to close most of these from March 1.
Last week, the civic body had already announced to close four COVID-19 jumbo centres at Dahisar, Goregaon's NESCO, Mulund and Kanjurmarg stated reports. Meanwhile, other centres will run with only one or two wards.
However, earlier it was reported that the jumbo centres at BKC, Worli's NSCI and Byculla's Richardson Cruddas and Seven Hills hospital in Marol will continue to remain in force. Additionally, Malvani's COVID-19 treatment facility which is only for pediatric patients has been kept on standby.
The BMC is in the process of shifting all the machinery and equipment to the Andheri godown to be used for newly built hospitals in suburbs. Apart from this, oxygen plants will also be shifted to peripheral hospitals.
According to the data, out of 129 CCC1 centres, only 15 are active now and 542 beds are occupied; while out of 100 CCC2 centres, only eight are active and four beds are occupied, as of Sunday, February 27.
For those unversed, the Covid Care Centre 1 (CCC1) were for high-risk contacts of the positive patients, while Covid Care Centre 2 (CCC2) were for asymptomatic cases. The schools, hotels, lodges, halls etc were also converted into COVID care centres.
The centres were started during the first COVID wave, in April 2020, to quarantine positive patients and free up beds in dedicated COVID hospitals, which had a limited capacity then.
Also Read: "This" Is Helping Mumbaikars Control The Spread Of COVID-19
Share
Tweet
