The isolation ward of BMC-run R N Cooper Hospital in Juhu could be a "potential hotspot" for COVID-19 cases, say doctors who have been treating high-risk patients here. Located on the sixth floor of the hospital, the ward barely sees any social distancing being followed by patients' relatives who walk in and out of the ward wearing minimal protective gear, bring food for patients, sit on the patient's bed, and feed them.

The ward, which has been functional for two months, has doctors on duty for approximately a week, following which they are relieved and resume other duties at the hospital for a fortnight. Doctors usually work in pairs and in eight-hour shifts at the isolation ward. According to a doctor at the hospital, there are 120 beds in the isolation ward, of which at least 80-90 are occupied by active COVID-19 patients. "The remaining patients are in the suspected category," the doctor told mid-day. "The isolation ward is safe for doctors, but not for relatives of patients. We are always wearing our PPE while the relatives wear minimal protective gear," the doctor said, adding that certain regulations need to be strictly enforced.