BMC gears up for third wave in Mumbai

Uddhav Thackeray and Iqbal Singh Chahal

With more people in the age group of 30-50 being affected in the second COVID-19 wave, authorities now fear that children could be at risk if there is a third wave in the country. Keeping this in mind, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray during a meeting with senior BMC and city officials on Saturday discussed the need to prepare a complete plan for more treatment rooms in hospitals across the city.

During the meeting, which was held through video conferencing, the CM also instructed that a separate control room be set up, and senior and retired doctors be given the responsibility to liaison with the patients, so that those with mild symptoms, who need attention, can be shifted to the hospital at the right time.

Medical experts have said that the third possible wave could infect children in large numbers, and the administration should plan in advance for such an eventuality. Further, emphasising the need for enough oxygen supply, authorities also discussed setting up more plants, in order to avoid dependency on external sources. The BMC will also be encouraging major private hospitals to set up oxygen plants in their premises.

Discussing the measures taken by the BMC, Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said that steps have been taken through various means to increase the contact and coordination with citizens through ward war rooms in Mumbai. Dr Rajesh Dere from the BKC Jumbo Centre also informed that relatives of the patients at the centre were given all the updated information about treatment through the mobile app.

Dr Shashank Joshi of the Task Force shared that sudden deterioration in the health of mild and asymptomatic patients, and late hospitalisation, have increased the mortality rate. He said that instructions have been given to senior doctors to coordinate with patients regularly.