SPREADING FASTER

What is more alarming is that the city has added a staggering 8,696 cases with 213 deaths in the past six days, averaging close to 1,500 new cases and 35 deaths in this period. On Friday, 27 Covid-19 deaths were reported in the city, with the total being 909 thus far. To deal with the existing 18,000 active corona cases in the next seven days, the BMC will be setting up 3,800 beds for patients across the city. “Currently, we have 6,200 beds, including those in private hospitals. So, by next week, the number of beds will increase to 10000,” said Dr Daksha Shah, deputy executive health officer. Meanwhile, there was some respite for uninsured patients, with the state government’s issuance of a revised notification capping treatment charges for Covid19 and nearly 200 non-Covid procedures in private hospitals.

As per the order, the capped rates will apply to 80 per cent of private hospital beds, while the management can set its own rates for the remaining 20 per cent. The price cap will stay in effect till August 31. The state has asked all municipal commissioners and district collectors to create a dashboard for bed availability in real time. “Civic authorities will have the power to allocate patients to these hospitals. We have asked hospitals to update bed status at least twice a day,” said Dr Sudhakar Shinde, CEO of the State Health Assurance Society. Dr Tatyarao Lahane, director, Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), however, insists the state has not yet reached the community transmission stage — where the source of infection is unknown —as there is no exponential growth in the number of fresh cases.

Also, state health authorities are expecting a flattening of the curve by the end of May. “We are waiting for another 14-day incubation cycle to end on May 31, af ter which the rise is likely to come under control and, gradually, the decline will start,” he said. However, if this doesn’t happen, then the rise may lead to the community transmission stage, he cautioned.