TMC increases hospital bed capacity to 7K

The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has increased the bed capacity from 4,000 to 7,000 with the Covid cases in the city crossing 100 after three months.

The civic body will also conduct random testing and intensify the vaccination drive.

Thane last reported 146 cases in February, after which the daily cases were less than a hundred. Thane city recorded 108 positive cases on Sunday and 97 on Monday.

TMC claimed that it was prepared to handle the probable fourth wave.

On Monday, TMC commissioner, Vipin Sharma, conducted a meeting with all senior civic officials and decided to increase testing facilities in the city to keep a tab on the rising cases.

“We shall conduct RT-PCR tests at crowded places like railway stations and bus stops. Moreover, people should follow all Covid protocols including wearing masks and getting vaccinated at the earliest with all the three doses. If a positive patient is found in any residential area, then the residents of the entire floor should get RT-PCR tests done. Through loudspeakers, awareness announcements regarding the probable fourth wave should be made in crowded places around the city,” said Sharma.

There has been a gradual increase in cases since almost a month now such that the active cases have now crossed 400 in the city.

“There are no severe cases and there’s less than 1% hospital admission in the last few days in Thane. However, as a precautionary measure, we have set up additional 3,000 beds in various areas including private hospitals in case of a probable fourth wave. Stock of medicines have also been set up and the positivity rate in the city is also being monitored,” said Sandeep Malvi, additional commissioner, TMC.

On April 30, Thane city had recorded 35 active cases, the figures gradually increased. On May 31, there were 211 active cases in the city. In the first two days of June, the numbers spiked to 290 active cases, most of them being asymptomatic.

“There has been a great amount of mask compliance fatigue. However, we have seen that masking has helped prevent infection. We are also aware that the relaxation of curbs and the mask mandate has coincided with an increase in the number of cases. Masking and following additional measures like social distancing and vaccination including boosters will help in slowing down the spread of the virus. If the surge continues, then there are chances that the elderly population, people with comorbidities and low immunity will get infected. This might then lead to an increase in hospitalisation,” said Dr Sanjith Saseedharan, consultant & head, critical care, SL Raheja Hospital. Hindustan Times