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.