BMC yet again changes its policy to free up hospital beds

MUMBAI: BMC has again changed its discharge policy and decided to test "low symptomatic" patients on fourth day of admission if symptoms disappear and discharge them the next day if the report is negative; instead of discharging them on tenth day without testing.
Civic chief I S Chahal issued the directive to civic hospitals and covid health centres. A related order will be issued soon. Chahal said, "It's only for those with low symptoms and no symptoms in the last two days, before testing on fourth day."
Civic officials said many who tested positive were admitted to hospital but within a day or two they are asymptomatic. Chahal has told them to test such patients on fourth day to check if they turn negative and accordingly discharge them. It will help BMC free hospital beds. BMC used to discharge patients with "mild symptoms" within 10 days without testing, if no symptoms were there in three days, which was a bone of contention between civic officials and patients.