As cases dip in Mumbai, BMC to shut most Covid-19 care centres from March 1

The BMC has already ordered closure of four jumbo centres

After shutting four jumbo centres, the civic body has now decided to close down COVID care centres which were started for asymptomatic patients and high-risk contacts.

"The occupancy number is very low and it is not necessary to operate all the centres. So we have asked to close most of these from March 1," said Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner of the BMC.

The centres were started during the first COVID wave, in April 2020, to quarantine positive patients and free up beds in dedicated COVID hospitals, which had a limited capacity then.

The Covid Care Centre 1 (CCC1) were for high-risk contacts of the positive patients, while Covid Care Centre 2 (CCC2) were for asymptomatic cases. The schools, hotels, lodges, halls etc were converted into COVID care centres.

Until now, 1.57 lakh people have been quarantined in these facilities.

As per the data, out of 129 CCC1 centres, only 15 are active now and 542 beds are occupied; while out of 100 CCC2 centres, only eight are active and four beds are occupied, as of Saturday, February 27.

The BMC has already ordered to close down four jumbo centres including Dahisar, Goregaon, Mulund and Kanjurmarg. Other centres will run with only one or two wards. The BMC is in the process of shifting all the machinery and equipment to the Andheri godown to be used for newly built hospitals in suburbs. Apart from this, oxygen plants will also be shifted to peripheral hospitals.