‘Ramp up tests, vaccination’: BMC commissioner to staff as Covid-19 cases rise in Mumbai

In a message to his colleagues, Chahal said that with the monsoon also around the corner, there is a likelihood of more symptomatic Covid-19 cases. “Better to plan for the worst and hope for the best,” Chahal said.

He told his staff to increase the number of tests on war-footing. Testing labs must be proactive and fully staffed, he said. Chahal also said that vaccination for children in the 12-18 age group and booster doses for adults should be ramped up.

Jumbo hospitals must be kept adequately staffed and on alert, he told the BMC’s health department. He also directed that the jumbo facility at Malad be put to use on priority if the hospitalisation increases in the coming days. Private hospitals must be put on alert, the commissioner added.

Assistant commissioners in charge of wards must review the status of ward war rooms to ensure they are fully equipped with staff, medical teams and ambulances, Chahal said.

Additional municipal commissioners are told to visit jumbo hospitals in their jurisdictions to ensure these are ready for monsoon with dewatering pumps, structural stability certification, fire safety mechanism, housekeeping, catering, paramedical and medical staff, oxygen manufacturing plants and fully equipped with medicines.

Chahal has been running the BMC, the country’s richest municipal corporation, over the last two months as administrator as its term ended in March and elections are set to be held in September-October. Someone who is widely appreciated for his efforts to tackle Covid in the city, he was recently empanelled in the rank of secretary by the Government of India.