Dharavi reported nine new cases on Wednesday, taking the tally to 189, including 12 deaths. Of the new cases, one is a four-year-old girl from PMGP Colony.

A five-member inter-ministerial central team visited Dharavi on Wednesday. Civic officials provided them with details since the outbreak and a visual inspection of parts of Dharavi. The team then made a few suggestions. It said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) 1200-bed quarantine facilities in the area are not enough and it should prepare for at least 5,000 beds as cases peak. The team had visited Worli Koliwada on Tuesday.

Kiran Dighavkar, assistant municipal commissioner of G North ward, said, “We informed them of the number of cases and how many high-risk contacts have been placed under institutional quarantine. They felt that 1200 quarantine beds may not be enough as Dharavi will peak in the coming weeks. They suggested that we can increase the capacity to 5000 considering future demand.”

Of the 189 positive cases, the BMC has placed 680 high-risk contacts in institutional quarantine and 2,100 in home quarantine. It can place 1,200 under institutional quarantine in facilities including Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex, a municipal school and its playground, and a transit camp. Sai Hospital is being used to quarantine senior citizens with co-morbidities.

Mr. Dighavkar said, “We will take their suggestion and look at ways to increase capacity. But it must be noted that those who have completed quarantine are being let go. For example, we let 210 people go from the sports complex after 14 days.” The team was satisfied with Dharavi’s community kitchen and food distribution system and suggested ways to increase hygiene levels in community toilets.

Meanwhile, Mahim and Dadar, which fall under G North ward, reported a new case each. The tally in Mahim now stands at 18 and its 27 in Dadar.