67 per cent beds at quarantine centres are unoccupied

Coronavirus cases have decreased across the city and other parts of the state. Similarly, for the safety of Mumbaikars, as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has also increased the number of tests. Due to the rapid decline in the number of patients before Diwali, 67 per cent of the beds at the COVID centres are empty, as per records, a total of 9734 out of the out of total 14,462 beds are vacant.

Officials state that these beds are available in the BMC quarantine centres and includes the beds in the intensive care unit (ICU). artificial respiration equipment, oxygen and various health facilities. Similar data have also been received from private hospitals in the city.

Earlier in May and June, the BMC had observed an increase in the number of coronavirus patients, however, the number of beds back then was less. Therefore, patients had to travel to a centre with bed availability. Observing this chaos and inconvenience, officials decided to set up control rooms across all 24 wards in the city and also provide necessary information on the availability of beds. Following the directives, information about the beds at municipal and private hospitals is currently being shared and updated.

A large number of beds are empty since November due to the admission of coronavirus patients. At the same time, patients who have large homes are home quarantine protocol. As a result, a large number of beds in the centres are empty.

However, since 60 per cent of the people in Mumbai live in slums, officials have also ensured that beds are made available at centres. Over the last few weeks, it is noted that the coronavirus cases have increased in such areas and admission at these centres has helped.

Over 91 per cent cases in the city have recovered from the infection and have been discharged from the hospital. Data from the municipal administration confirms that currently, only 8,946 patients being treated for the condition, out of which 6,211 cases are asymptomatic. Moreover, the city has 2935 active cases and 661 patients being treated for critical conditions.