Over 1,000 Best Employees Have Fully Recovered After Healing From COVID-19

As per data provided by BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking), 16 of its employees have lost their lives to COVID-19 so far. However, there’s some good news in the midst of all the chaos as several BEST employees including conductors have completely healed from COVID-19 and are set to finish their 14-day home quarantine period so that they can resume their duties again. The number of BEST employees who were fully cured of the virus crossed 1,000, which is indeed a big landmark for the city’s transport body. 

Frontline workers are at the highest risk of contracting the virus, and BEST employees interact with several citizens while performing their daily duties, putting them and their families at risk. 

However, BEST, for its part has done seemingly well for its employees, especially those who were sick with the virus. It is said that BEST even paid for the shifting of its infected employees to receive ICUs at private hospitals while making sure lifesaving drugs like Remdesivir are administered on time. 

Read - Rapid Antigen Tests Conducted In 94 Police Stations In Mumbai

“It is a major victory for us as we strived hard to save every life possible. The BEST spent from its own coffers to shift patients to ICUs in private hospitals for better treatment, arranged for the life-saving Remdesivir injections during the crisis hour and also formed a COVID-response team to track every employee who was unwell for more than two days,” Chief Medical Officer of BEST, Dr Anil Kumar Singhal said. 

Additional data has revealed that the coronavirus recovery rate among BEST employees is around 70-75 per cent over the last 30 days. 

A BEST bus conductor, Balu Suryawanshi was in for the shock of his life when it was found that he and his entire family reported positive for COVID-19. The 51-year old spent 33 days in the hospital and received a hero’s welcome upon being discharged from the hospital.

“All of us have got a new lease of life. Being a frontline worker has its risks, but I am indebted to BEST and will return to serve on the red buses till my last breath,” Suryawanshi said to TOI. 

Also read - Mumbai's Recovery Rate Climbs To 71 Per Cent