BMC on alert after tremendous rise in COVID-19 cases

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal asked civic officials to ramp up coronavirus testing immediately on a war-footing and ensure laboratories are proactive and fully staffed. The staff of jumbo field hospitals are on alert in the wake of a “tremendous” rise in fresh COVID-19 cases in the city over the past few weeks with monsoon around the corner, we will now see a rapid rise in symptomatic cases,” Chahal told BMC officials. The city is clocking around 8,000-9,000 tests daily.

Chahal also asked all the assistant municipal commissioners, in-charge of various wards, to review the status of ward war rooms to ensure they are fully equipped with staff, medical teams, and ambulances, and also to put private hospitals on alert.

He also asked the assistant civic commissioners to take daily reviews of the COVID-19 situation in their wards and intervene wherever required. He says the Malad jumbo hospital would be put to use on priority if the hospitalization increases in the coming days.

Although the state recorded 152 percent more cases in May than in April, the mortality rate has plummeted by 70%.