shot-button
Maharashtra Elections 2024 Maharashtra Elections 2024
Home > Mumbai > Mumbai News > Article > BMC keeps wards ready for Omicron patients

BMC keeps wards ready for Omicron patients

Updated on: 08 December,2021 07:49 AM IST  |  Mumbai
Prajakta Kasale | prajakta.kasale@mid-day.com

While a separate floor with 250 beds at SevenHills has been readied, civic body has asked two private hospitals to keep 10 beds each

BMC keeps wards ready for Omicron patients

Beneficiaries wait at SevenHills Hospital in Andheri to get vaccinated against the novel Coronavirus, in May this year. File pic

In a bid to step up its precautionary measures against the new Coronavirus variant, Omicron, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to keep separate wards ready for patients who might get infected by the new strain. While a separate floor with 250 beds at SevenHills Hospital has been kept ready for the purpose, the civic body has also asked each of two private hospitals to keep 10 beds ready for Omicron patients.


Of the 4,845 passengers who arrived in Mumbai from ‘at high-risk’ countries till December 6, 23  have tested positive. After their close contacts were tested, nine returned positive. Out of these, two—a passenger and his close contact—are infected with the Omicron variant.


A 37 year-old man, who had come from Johannesburg on November 25 and his 36-year-old friend, who came from the US on the same day tested positive for the new variant. Both are asymptomatic. None of their 314 close contacts, who were tested, have been found positive.


“Genome sequencing reports of 11 people are pending. Rest are negative, but as we haven’t received the official report yet, we cannot send them home,” said a BMC official. Though the civic body already has separate centres for Covid treatment, it has still decided to have separate wards for patients of the new variant.

“A separate floor with 250 beds at SevenHills Hospital has been kept ready for Omicron patients. We have also instructed each of Breach Candy and Bombay Hospital to keep 10 beds ready for patients of the new variant,” said Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner of the BMC. He added that though cases weren’t on the rise, they made the arrangements as a precautionary measure.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!

Register for FREE
to continue reading !

This is not a paywall.
However, your registration helps us understand your preferences better and enables us to provide insightful and credible journalism for all our readers.

Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK