PUNE: Covid positive cases have increased by 10 times in the
Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) limits in the last one week.
The cantonment had only 12 Covid positive cases on March 12. Now the number of cases has gone up to 141, officials said.
Dr VD Gaikwad, resident medical officer, PCB, said, “Positive cases are coming from all across the cantonment limits. We did not notice this kind of trend during the peak of the virus last year. That time, the cases were mainly from slum pockets.”
Convent street, New Modikhana and Solapur bazaar are worst affected localities as maximum Covid cases are being reported from there.
“At least 10 cases are getting reported from these three localities for the last few days, which is worrisome for us,” added Gaikwad.
The Saradar Vallabhbhai Patel Cantonment General hospital has capacity for 20 oxygen and 20 ICU beds.
“Maximum patients from our area are asymptomatic and, hence, they are home isolated, while some of the patients are being treated at private hospitals. Our Covid ward is now full,” said a cantonment official.
The PCB is currently facing a huge financial crunch and doesn’t have funds to restart its
Covid Care Centre (CCC).
“We have demanded Rs1.6 crore grant from the district administration to set up Covid facilities here. The proposal is still pending with them. We are hopeful of getting the aid,” said Gaikwad, who is pursuing the matter with the administration.
Covid cases in cantonment were in single digit in January.
“Increase in cases in neighbouring municipal limits and intermingling with local populace for work have led to a surge in positive cases,” said Amit Kumar, chief executive officer, PCB.