Starting from April 11, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has directed that it is compulsory for employees, patients, and visitors at civic or private hospitals to wear three-ply or N95 masks. BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has directed all hospitals to implement the directive with immediate effect. The directive has been issued in view of the current spike in Covid cases in the city.
Further, senior citizens have been advised to wear masks in public places and crowded spots. The advisory comes after the Union ministry of health has indicated the possibility of an increase in Covid cases in May.
IMA issued circular stating directives about physical distance
Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has issued a circular stating that people should avoid hugging, kissing and shaking hands and maintain at least a metre of physical distance. The IMA has further said that doctors should avoid prescribing antibiotics since these have no role in the treatment of Covid.
Chahal's directives
“It is mandatory for all employees, patients, and visitors in municipal hospitals to wear masks. All municipal employees should also wear masks as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, guidelines on home isolation will be re-issued. Moreover, all aspects of Covid preparedness, such as Covid testing, ward war rooms, availability of oxygen and medicines and Covid preparedness in private hospitals, were also reviewed,” Chahal said.
Chahal also stated that although it was not mandatory, those above 60 years of age should wear masks as a precautionary measure, in crowded places. “We have also given strict instructions that patients admitted for surgery at the hospital will have to undergo RT-PCR testing and if such a patient tests positive and the surgery is not an emergency, then it must be postponed.
BMC Executive Health Officer Dr Mangala Gomare said, “We have been urging senior citizens and people with comorbidities to wear masks, so as to avoid contracting infections. We have been directed to increase Covid testing and also check stocks of testing kits.”
Essential equipment need to stock up as safety measure
The central purchase department should review the availability of gloves, masks, PPE kits, as well as the stock of medicines and other medical equipment required by all the hospitals of BMC and commence the purchasing process, if required. It should be ensured that there will be no shortage of any medical requirement
As the number of Covid patients increases, the need for intensive care may also increase. It is therefore important for all the hospitals to examine and audit their medical oxygen plants to ensure that these are functioning well and there is a balance between the demand and supply of oxygen, at all times
All ward war rooms, which have played a vital role in patient management during previous waves of Covid, should be urgently reviewed to ensure that they are functional with all the necessary manpower and machinery to deal with any situation.
The health department should re-issue guidelines regarding home isolation of Covid-19 patients. The assistant commissioners of the concerned wards should also review medicine stocks and the availability of manpower in HBT clinics.
Pre-monsoon works like desilting, road repairs, etc., should be completed before the onset of the monsoon. Coordination officers should be appointed at the ward-office level for the organisation of ‘Matrushakti Mahila Melava’ by the department of women and child welfare.
The additional municipal commissioner (projects) and deputy commissioner (infrastructure) should regularly review pre-monsoon works, including the concretisation of roads. The additional municipal commissioner (city) should review the appointment of ‘swachhtadoots’ and the construction of new public toilets.
