With numbers of of Covid cases rising in Mumbai and increase in the number of patients in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) area in the past few days, the civic authority has advised all citizens above the age of 60 to wear masks in crowded places. All employees, patients and visitors in BMC hospitals are required to mandatorily wear masks.

Municipal commissioner and administrator, IS Chahal, held an urgent meeting to review the preparedness of the health services in Mumbai, and noted the rising Covid patients across the country and the Government of India's health advisory that the number of patients exposed to Covid infection is expected to increase in May. “Therefore, it is necessary to keep hospital beds ready at BMC as well as private hospitals,” he said.

Reviewing Covid preparedness with senior civic officials, Chahal issued these instructions:

* All senior citizens above 60 years of age in the BMC area, as well as citizens with co-morbidities, should consistently use masks for safety. Though not mandatory, it is important to take precautions. Masks should be used in public and crowded places. An advisory in this regard will be issued by the health department at the earliest.

* All employees of the BMC should also use masks. Visitors to municipal offices should also be politely requested to wear masks. In BMC hospitals, it is mandatory for all employees, patients and visitors to wear masks. A notice in this regard will be issued by the health department immediately.

* All Ward War Rooms should be functional with all the necessary manpower and machinery to deal with any situation. Public awareness on Covid should increase.

* Patients undergoing surgery should be tested for Covid in all hospitals. If such a patient is found to be infected with Covid and the surgery is not an emergency, then the surgery should be postponed.

* Keeping in view the Covid-infected as well as asymptomatic patients, Health Department should re-issue guidelines regarding home isolation of Covid-19 patients.

* All hospitals are required to examine and audit their medical oxygen plants to ensure that they are functioning well and there is a balance between the demand and supply of oxygen, at any given point of time. They are required to equip their entire system for the treatment of Covid patients.

* Central Purchase Department should stock required supplies of gloves, masks, PPE kits, medicines and other medical equipment required by all the hospitals of BMC. Additional municipal commissioner, Sanjiv Kumar should hold a meeting of private medical laboratory operators and covid testing should increase.   

* Municipal hospitals and private hospitals in Mumbai should conduct mock drills as part of Covid preparedness, in accordance with Government of India’s guidelines.

* To ensure availability and related medical equipment at Hindu Hrudayamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhanas (HBT Clinics) assistant commissioners of the concerned ward should review stock of medicines and availability of manpower in HBT Clinics.

* Pre-monsoon works like desilting, road repairs, etc., should be completed before the onset of the monsoon. All the concerned joint commissioners, deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, heads of departments should review the work and ensure its timely implementation.

* Coordination officers should be appointed at the ward office level for the organization of Matrashakti Mahila Melava through the Department of Women and Child Welfare.

* Additional municipal commissioner (City) should review the appointment of Shwachhtadoots and the construction of new public toilets.

Additional municipal commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Ashwini Bhide, additional municipal commissioner (City) Ashish Sharma, additional municipal commissioner (Projects) P. Velrasu, additional municipal commissioner (Western Suburbs) Sanjeev Kumar, Prinicipal Secretary-2 Public Health Department (Government of Maharashtra)  N. Nawin Sona, all concerned joint municipal commissioners, deputy municipal commissioners, assistant municipal commissioners, and heads of departments were present.