Despite recording no fatalities for the first time since March 2020 on Sunday, BMC has said it will keep COVID centres active for three more months, while increasing bed strength, too
The jumbo centre at Malad West has added to city’s bed capacity. File pic
Even as the city recorded no COVID deaths on Sunday, a first in the past 19 months, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has no intention of letting its guard down. As part of its preparations for the third wave, the civic body will keep all the Jumbo COVID Centres active for another three months. The BMC has also increased the bed strength of these centres from 7,307 to 15,207, finalised contractors to run 6,008 beds at the jumbo facilities at a cost of Rs 105 crore and prepared oxygen facilities as well.
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During the second wave of the pandemic, there were six jumbo centres with a total strength of 7,307 beds. About 7,900 beds were added to it and four new centres were set up at Malad, Sion, Kanjurmarg and Mahalaxmi. Another 700 beds at Richardsons and Cruddas of Byculla, 1,500 at the Nesco-Goregaon centre and 100 at NSCI Worli increased the bed capacity to 15,207.
Workers connect a pipeline to oxygen cylinders at the NESCO Jumbo COVID Care Centre in Goregaon. File pic
The BMC administration has finalised five contractors for five jumbo centres — Dahisar, BKC, Somaiya, Kanjurmarg and Malad. The contract, which costs Rs 105 crore, is for providing medical facilities for 6,008 beds, including 848 ICU and 4,259 oxygenated ones, for three months in phases. However, it does not include meals, cleanliness, hygiene, security, fire services, water, sewage management, maintenance of machinery and oxygen supply. The corporation is paying Rs 5,800 per ICU bed and Rs 1,500 for each oxygenated bed. The city’s daily requirement of oxygen is 235 MT if all the oxygen and ICU beds are occupied. The total capacity of all the plants will be 204 MT per day. A BMC official said that the preparations were based on the experiences of the third wave.
“The cases are within limit and it is a positive sign. The festive season is on and there are chances of cases increasing if people don’t follow COVID norms. We can’t shut down infrastructure as of now and all the jumbo centres and facilities will be open for the next couple of months,” said Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner.
“The city recorded no COVID deaths on Sunday. It is the result of combined efforts of BMC and citizens. But the pandemic is still on and people should follow the rules. Restrictions will be there for Diwali also. Social distancing and wearing of masks are necessary,” said Kishori Pednekar, mayor.
235mt
City’s daily oxygen need if all oxygen, ICU beds are occupied
COVID nos. on Oct 18
. Active patients – 5,183
. Symptomatic – 1,986
. Critical – 347
. Bed capacity – 15,928
. Occupied beds– 1,693
. On August 17, 2021, the city had the least number of active patients, at 2,640
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