With a possibility of a third Covid wave by August or September, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has started preparations to tackle the situation. Civic chief Abhijit Bangar reviewed the preparation and directed the officials to complete the tender process of setting up Covid care centres and other facilities in the city. As per the study, the city may witness around 25,000 active cases in the third phase.
“Currently, the second wave is declining to some extent, but when it was at its peak, the number of active cases had reached 12,000. “After carrying out a proper study of the third wave in other countries, we have come to the conclusion that the number of active cases can be double from the second wave. We aim to increase the number of health facilities to that extent and preparations are being made accordingly,” said a senior NMMC official.
The civic body is paying special attention to the increase in the number of ICU beds and ventilators, considering the rise in cases in the second wave. Besides, there is also stress on increasing the number of general and oxygen beds.
“It has been planned to set up a pediatric health facility as there is a possibility that children will be affected in the third wave. The civic chief has directed us to expedite the tender process for construction of electrical facilities as well as necessary equipment and materials in view to increasing the number of ventilators and ICU beds. There will also be an additional 3,000 general beds, 1,500 oxygen beds and 500 ICU beds,” said the official.
Despite the decline in the number of cases last week, the NMMC is vigilant in implementing preventive measures. The third wave is expected between August and September, according to health experts, and the NMMC has started gearing up for it.
The number of active cases in the first wave was 3,688 and 11,605 in the second wave. As per the previous surges, the number of active patients in the third wave will be around 25,000, assuming that 50% will be admitted to Covid care centers.
