Don’t be in a hurry to dismantle COVID centres

New COVID-19 centre at Nehru Science Centre. Pic/Ashish Raje

The state has restarted or is going to restart a number of COVID facilities that were dismantled after the first lockdown. The Nehru Science Centre in Mahalaxmi, which is a sprawling 11-acre place with at least 14 exhibition halls, had a portion of its space taken over last year for a COVID centre. It was eventually taken down after it was not used. The Centre was allowed to take in public in November but now, because of the recent surge it has closed down again for the general public and a portion of the Centre has turned into a COVID centre once again.

Yet another venue, the Mahalaxmi racecourse was in the spotlight after it was converted into a jumbo COVID centre in 2020 and the facility was mammoth, an important piece of ammo in a city which was gearing up to begin its battle against Coronavirus. Eventually, the centre was taken down and packed away in early 2021. All indications are that the space may be taken once again for a centre though there are no confirmations on that.

We fully understand that the pandemic is completely unpredictable and it is next to impossible maybe, to trace its trajectory. Yet let us now keep the centres intact for a reasonable amount of time, so that time and money is not wasted on making, shifting and re-installing the amenities. One understands that clubs and grounds need to restart regular activities but this time, let us keep the set-ups in place for a while at least, so that there is no need then to scramble for setting up these COVID hubs once again.

A definite and clearer timeline for them, accepting that there is still so much uncertainty surrounding the pandemic will ensure that there is no need for rebuilding efforts that take up so much precious human resource.