In Andheri, BMC shifts Covid-19 focus from slums to highrises

MUMBAI: The BMC is shifting its Covid-19 focus from slums in the Andheri area to highrises in Lokandwala, Versova and Oshiwara. A look at the cases that have been reported from BMC's K-West ward (which includes these areas and also Juhu) from Friday to Sunday shows that more cases have been reported from buildings than from slum pockets.

For instance, on Saturday, of the 52 new cases that were reported from the ward, 16 were from slums and 23 from residential colonies. And on Friday, out of the 64 cases reported, again, the majority was from non-slum areas.
Even while tracing highrisk contacts (HRC), the same trend has been observed. For instance, on Saturday, seven HRCs were from highrises and six from the ward’s slums.
K-West ward has so far reported 2,877 cases, of which active cases as of Monday stood at 1,086. To control the spread of the novel coronavirus in the ward, the BMC has now decided to focus on aggressive screening and checking of oxygen levels among those living in housing societies in residential neighbourhoods, something that for the last couple of months was done in the slums.
“Housing societies will be asked to buy oxygen concentrators and turn their own club houses into isolation facilities wherever possible so that residents who are found to be asymptomatic patients can quarantine themselves within the society,” said assistant municipal commissioner, K-West, Vishwas Mote. Oxygen concentrators would ensure that patients can be started on oxygen even while waiting for an ambulance in case their oxygen levels dip.
Also, from Tuesday onwards, 13 civic teams will be formed (one for every corporator’s area), who would visit housing societies in the ward to screen residents. Local MLA Ameet Satam said he has requested civic officials to screen fruit and vegetable vendors and also grocery and medical store staff.