BMC wants to give hydroxychloroquine in mass scale to COVID-19 suspected patients

MUMBAI: As the coronavirus, positive cases have been increasing in Mumbai and Pune particularly in the slum areas, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to administer the hydroxychloroquine medicine in a large scale to contain the spreading of coronavirus. 

The hydroxychloroquine is administered for malaria patients. Kiran Dhighavkar assistant minutes municipal commissioner of G northward, told The New Indian Express that they are in the discussion stage.  "We have not yet finalized. We yet to decide whether this hydroxychloroquine medicine should be given to all contaminated zone people or quarantined people or only infected patients. We will have a meeting where the final decision will be taken soon," sad Dhighavkar.

Sources in BMC said that this experiment will be first tested in Asia's largest slum - Dharavi and after the result, it will be used at larger scale in another part of the state as well.

FOLLOW COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES HERE

"Earlier we have been given HIV drugs to the coronavirus infected patients that had also resulted. But many people including doctors are suggesting anti-malaria dose because coronavirus is version of pneumonia only. America and another developed country also heavily relying on this medicine only in time of pandemic situation and battle against the coronavirus. We are also q thinking on the same line,"  said senior BMC officer requested anonymity.

In Mumbai, more than 2798 coronavirus positive patient have been detected while 131 deaths and 310 discharged. In Dharavi alone, 138 coronavirus patients and total of 11 deaths are reported in the last few days. 

According to BMC data earlier Peddar Road, Tardeo and Malabar Hill had the highest number of coronavirus patients but the number in this area are coming down significantly in recent times.

The number of coronavirus patient has been increasing particularly in G north ward of BMC where Dharavi is major part. Besides, the slum areas of Kurla, Worli, Prabhadevi, fishermen colonies and Andheri East and west are getting more coronavirus positive patients in the screening.