As the daily count of COVID-19 cases in the city hovers around 1,000, the civic body is shifting its focus on non-COVID patients at major civic-run hospitals. Officials, however, say that they have seen a low footfall of patients as apprehensive Mumbaikars are reluctant to visit recently opened non-COVID outpatient departments (OPD) at KEM and Nair hospitals. "The patient count is low as people are apprehensive about contracting COVID-19," said Dr Shailesh Mohite, dean of Nair hospital.

Over the past few months, BYL Nair Hospital was a dedicated COVID facility and KEM hospital was treating critical COVID patients. In the two weeks since it began, Nair hospital hasn't seen more than 20 patients a day. "Currently, we get 15-20 patients daily in the surgery OPD. In the first week, there were two to four daily. The patient count is low as people are apprehensive about contracting COVID-19," said Dr Shailesh Mohite, dean of Nair hospital.