Indian Railways to modify rail coaches to offer 3.2 lakh isolation beds

Given the surge in cases of COVID-19 across the country, Indian Railways had decided to convert up to 20,000 of its coaches into isolation beds. The authorities have now announced that this will offer up to 3.2 lakh isolation beds for COVID-19 patients. For the time being, railways is only looking to use non-AC coaches for this purpose. 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s ‘Lifeline Udan’ flights have reportedly delivered 15.4 tons of medical equipment so far. A total of 62 flights were said to be operational between March 26 - 30, providing essential supplies to medical staff who are on the frontlines in the fight against this virus.  

It’s also worth mentioning that the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has decided to regulate 24 medical devices as drugs to provide better quality control and restrictions on the price increase. Under this rule, manufacturers cannot hike the prices of the listed medical equipment by more than 10 per cent over a 12 year period.

Yesterday, the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) announced that it will convert empty residential buildings, hotels, restaurants, gymkhanas, and other properties in its vicinity into quarantine centres for those who are unable to practice home quarantine on their own due to a multitude of factors, including the fact that some of them live in cramped houses.

Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, COVID-19 cases have surged past 300 as contact tracing continues and new cases pop up. The BMC has sealed off several areas of the city as a precautionary measure and to avoid community spread.  

There were instances where people with home quarantine stamps on their arm were seen frolicking the streets or even taking BEST buses across the city. Yesterday, the BMC sealed 146 areas across Mumbai and designated them “no-go zones”.