Due to the second wave of the coronavirus, and the shortage of oxygen witnessed across the country, Mumbai’s civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to fast-track the work on oxygen plants.
According to reports, the civic body plans to raise the city’s medical oxygen production capacity from 3 metric tonnes a day to 178 MT by next month. At present, plants with a combined capacity of 55 MT are ready. Mumbai’s oxygen requirement is 235 MT a day if all oxygen and ICU beds are occupied. Meanwhile, the BMC has raised oxygen storage capacity to 600 MT.
As the need for a steady supply of oxygen was felt deeply during the second wave, several hospitals pressed the panic button during the second wave with the number of patients with lung infections ballooning. Moreover, on the night of April 17, the corporation had to shift 168 patients from six municipal hospitals to other centres over lack of oxygen.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases have significantly reduced across several districts of Maharashtra and the state government has eased restrictions with an aim to allow the public to resume their daily duties. However, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray informed the citizens that the state government would impose a lockdown once again if the COVID-19 cases increase in the state. The statement was made while addressing the people at the inauguration of a COVID-19 at the Kalina Campus, on Saturday, August 21, 2021.
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