Raigad district to get 2 jumbo centres and testing centre as COVID-19 hits Panvel, Kharghar, Alibuag

The Raigad administration has decided to set up two jumbo COVID centres for the first time in the district.

This development comes amid a massive surge in Coronavirus infections in Kharghar and other areas under the Panvel civic body and rural corners of Alibaug.

According to reports, as many as 42 people succumbed to the disease as of April 22. However, Raigad has witnessed 19-20 COVID deaths daily over the past few days.

The Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) reported daily cases rising from 529 on April 9 to 616 on April 22, taking active infections from 3,798 to 4,715.

Similarly, active patients shot up to 193 in Kharghar itself.

Besides, the situation is equally alarming Alibaug that reported 273 cases on Friday, April 23, against less than a hundred two weeks ago.

The officials said that all its 160 COVID beds are occupied and many have been sent to either private or other nearby set-ups.

Panvel, which has around 95 beds and a dedicated COVID Health Care Centre at Kalamboli with 72 oxygenated beds, recently started operation, reports suggested.

State Minister Aditi Tatkare, who is also the Guardian Minister for Raigad district, said the spike in Alibaug and its villages like Revdanda, Rewas, Sagaon is a big concern as the area is also a second home for many from other cities. Tourism has been stopped in the entire district for the past 10-15 days, she said hoping the number would come down in the next five or six days.

Tatkare appealed to the people to follow lockdown norms and stick to mask, hand sanitising and social distance.

Moreover, a testing centre has been opened at a senior citizens’ hall at Alibaug to conduct RT-PCR, rapid antigen and COVID antibody tests at government rates, she said.

Another set-up with 500-600 beds will be coming up shortly at the Cotton Corporation India Godown in Kalamboli. The two dedicated jumbo centres would be very helpful in tackling the medical infrastructure requirement in Raigad district, said the minister.

With 174 patients admitted to the sub-district hospital at Panvel and all the beds occupied at the Kalamboli COVID centre, a large number of people have turned to private nursing homes and smaller hospitals. The availability of beds can be checked in real-time on www.covid19raigad.in.