The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has begun preparing for a possible third wave of COVID-19 by August-September.
The civic chief Abhijit Bangar reviewed the preparation and directed officials to complete the tender process of setting up COVID Care centre and other facilities.
As per the study, the city will see around 25,000 active cases in the third phase of COVID-19.
At present, the second wave is declining to some extent, but when it was at its peak, the number of active patients had reached 12,000. “After going through a study of the third wave in other countries, we reached the conclusion that number of active cases could be double from the second wave and we aim to increase the number of health facilities to that extent and preparations are being made accordingly,” said a senior civic official from NMMC.
The civic body is paying special attention to the increase of ICU beds and ventilators considering the rise in the number of cases in the second wave. In addition, there is also stress to increase general beds and oxygen beds. “It has been planned to set up a pediatric health facility as there is a possibility that children are affected in the third wave of COVID.
Bangar directed to expedite the tender process for construction of electrical, electrical facilities as well as necessary equipment and materials in order to increase the number of ventilators and ICU beds, “There will be additional 3000 general beds, 1500 in oxygen beds and 500 in ICU beds,” said the official.
Despite the decline in the number of cases since last week, the NMMC is vigilant in implementing COVID-19 preventive measures. The third wave is expected between August and September, according to health experts, and the NMMC has started planning for it.
The maximum number of active patients were 3688 in the first wave and 11605 in the second wave.
As per the previous surge in cases, the number of active patients in the third wave will be around 25,000, assuming that 50 percent of them will be admitted to the COVID Center, the preparation of 12,000 beds should be planned from now on.
A possible third wave has been predicted to be dangerous for young children and special COVID centers with pediatric ventilators including general beds, oxygen beds, ICU beds have been planned at a few places.
