As Maharashtra relaxes lockdown, does Mumbai have enough beds?

The state on Sunday issued guidelines for a calibrated unlocking of activities Naming its plan Mission Begin Again the government said certain restrictions would continue in red zones like Mumbai Meanwhile with lockdown easing and cases expected to rise BMC does not seem to have beds ready and the common man continues to run around for them midday found that places meant to be converted into CCC2 have not even been inspectedEven the claim of readiness of almost 30000 beds for mild symptomatic COVID19 positive patients in Corona Care Centres 2 seems to be only on paperA volunteer with an NGO sanitises the bags and hands of migrant workers outside CSMT where they took a train to their hometown on Sunday PicAshish RajeBut BMC officials said the centres will be ready within a day after beds are put in placeAmbulances are making the rounds of hospitals and in many cases have even taken patients back to their homes due to the lack of beds The picture is the same as it was 15 days back Last week Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said that the BMC is ready with 44000 beds of which 14000 are in hospitals and 30000 are in CCC2 ndash for asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients But as midday found few of the centres have started and most are only on paper without even inspection of siteThe list included 225 centres such as Hindu Gymkhana at Marine Lines with a capacity for 1000 beds and another 1000 beds centre at Somaiya Ground Chembur There isnt much space in the gymkhana buildings to have more than 100 beds said Rita Makwana corporator from GirgaonThe BMC may not have a centre on the Somaiya ground in the monsoon it is looking at the Kurla ST depot for this PicAtul KambleCentres on open space will be an issue in monsoon So we may drop the centre at Somaiya ground Instead the BMC is looking for a centre in Kurla ST depot the decision will be taken in the next week said an officer with L wardPotential centres identifiedThe BMC has identified potential centres which can house over 29000 beds Whenever a centre needs to be ready the beds are put up just one day before Identifying a suitable location and keeping it available with the ward officers takes more time but it has already been done said Ashwini Bhide additional municipal commissionerShe added The BMC is monitoring the situation In the past one month around 4000 symptomatic cases have been in CCC2 With regular discharge the present activated capacity is adequate at the moment Whenever there is a requirement the next lot will be activated The ultimate capacity 29442 is clearly identifiedHowever people have their doubts There are many mild symptomatic patients waiting for treatment and BMC is not admitting them in the centres The BMC is hiding the truth and it will turn into a major tragedy There are many places BMC hasnt inspected How will they turn them into centres within one day said Prabhakar Shinde group leader of BJP in the BMCWaiting to hear from BMCThe civic body has declared a list of educational institutions to create quarantine facilities but it hasnt taken charge of many private institutions for this either While some have refused to lend their premises others are waiting to hear from the civic body after a first discussionFr Francis Swamy principal of the St Marys School in Mazgaon told midday The BMC approached us for the Mazgaon School But there are many priests staying in that campus who are above 90 years old So we requested the BMC to instead use our other school in Dhobi Talao While the civic body agreed there is no communication from them after one visit to our Dhobi Talao School Ruia College in Matunga is also on the list But Dr Anushree Lokur principal of the college said There is no discussion with the BMC Moreover we do not have such big halls for this serviceKhalsa College has wholeheartedly agreed to open its doors for the civic body We have had a discussion with BMC and few rooms are finalised said Dr Kiran Mangaonkar principal of the collegeContainment zones CZs will have no relaxations at all Some additional activities will be allowed from June 3 June 5 and June 8 in a phased mannerPeople can take up outdoor physical activities and avail of technicians and garage services All markets and shops except malls and market complexes will be allowed to function From June 8 all private offices will be able to operate with up to 10 per cent employee strength For Mumbai the BMC will come up with a separate order based on the state guidelines because the civic body will have to inform people about the activities allowed and also the demarcated containment zones If the entire area that comes under BMCs jurisdiction is treated as a single containment zone then the unlocking order will not apply in MumbaiIn its Sunday order the state government took a different position from the Centre by asking religious places and places of worship to remain shut Even shopping malls restaurants barber shops spas salons beauty parlours hotels and other hospitality services will not open up Apart from this schools colleges educational training and coaching institutions will remain shut International air travel except as permitted by MHA Metro rail services passenger movement by trains and domestic air travel unless specifically allowed through separate orders and standard operating procedure SOP will not be allowed to operate Also cinema halls gymnasiums swimming pools entertainment parks theatres bars and auditoriums assembly halls and similar places social politicalsports entertainmentacademicculturalreligious functions and large congregations will not be allowed Easing of restrictions and opening up of these activities will be done in a phased manner said an order issued by chief secretary Ajoy MehtaMunicipaldistrict authorities will demarcate CZs The municipal commissioners in corporation areas and district collectors are empowered to decide the CZs The CZs will be residential colonies mohalla slum building group of buildings lane ward police station area villages small cluster of villages etc Anything larger than this whole taluka and municipal corporation can be declared as a CZ only after consultation with the chief secretaryMission Begin AgainEasing of restrictions and phasewise openingIn municipal corporations of MMR Region including BMC Pune Solapur Aurangabad Malegaon Nashik Dhule Jalgaon Akola Amravati and Nagpur following activities are additionally permitted with restrictions and in phases except containment zones This is in addition to the activities already allowed and permittedPhase I ndash from June 3 Outdoor physical activities Individual physical exercises like cyclingjoggingrunningwalking shall be permitted at public open spaces including beaches publicprivate playgrounds grounds belonging to societiesinstitutions gardens and promenades with following conditions No activities will be permitted in enclosed areas or indoor stadium1 These activities will be allowed between 5 am to 7 pm2 No group activity will be permitted However adults should accompany children3 People are advised to stay outdoors only for the purposes of physical activities4 No other activity permitted5 People are permitted to use only nearbyneighbourhood open spaces Long distance travel will not be permitted6 People are advised to avoid crowded open spaces They are actively encouraged to use cycling as a form of physical exercise as it ensures social distancing Plumbers electricians pestcontrol and technicians can operate by following social distancing and sanitisation norms and using masks Garages to mend vehicles and workshops can function with prior appointments All government offices excluding emergency health and medical services treasuries disaster management police NIC food and civil supply FCI NYK municipal services who can operate as per need will function at 15 per cent strength or minimum 15 employees whichever is morePhase II ndash from June 5All markets market areas and shops except malls and market complexes are allowed to function shops on one side of the roadlanepassage to be opened on odd dates while shops on the other side on even dates from 9 am to 5 pm with following conditions The use of trial rooms in the shops will not be permitted for clothes apparels and similar items Similarly exchange policy and return policy will not apply The shopkeepers will be responsible for ensuring that social distancing norms are followed in the shops and measures such as foot markings on the floor token system home delivery etc are taken People are advised to walkto use cycles for shopping purposes and to visit nearbyneighbourhood markets Longdistance travel for nonessential items will not be permitted Use of motorised vehicles for shopping will be strictly discouragedIf any failure in following social distancing norms is seen the authorities will immediately close such shopsmarketsMovement of peopleTaxicab aggregator only essential work I 2Rickshaw only essential work I 2Fourwheeler only essential work 1 2Twowheeler only essential work one riderPhase III ndash from June 8 Private offices can operate with up to 10 per cent strength as per requirement with the remaining staff working from home However employers will have to conduct sensitisation programmes to educate staff about taking precautions on returning home so that those who are vulnerable especially the elderly are not infectedNo permission is needed from government authorities for permitted activities Outdoor portion of sports complexes and stadia and other open public spaces will be permitted to remain open for individual exercises strictly following social distancing norms however spectators and group activities will not be allowed All public and private transport will follow passenger management Intradistrict bus services will be allowed with maximum 50 per cent capacity per bus All marketsshops will remain open from 9 am to 5 pm If crowding is seen authorities will immediately close down such shopsmarketsActivities as per SOPs Authorities will allow interstate and intrastate movement of medical professionals nurses and paramedical staff sanitation personnel and ambulances without any restriction However interstate and interdistrict movement of people will be regulated The movement of stranded labourers migrant workers pilgrims tourists Shramik Special trains and seafarers will continue to be regulated as per SOPs issued All authorities shall allow interstate movement of goodscargo including empty trucks Authorities should not stop the movement of any type of goodscargo for cross landborder trade under treaties with neighbouring countries Night curfew prohibits the movement of individuals from 9 pm to 5 am except for essential activities30000No of beds BMC claims to be ready within CCC2As of May 30 50 No of activated CCC2 6425 No of total beds here 4222 No of beds occupied 29442 No of beds in 225 centres as per the list of CCC2Home delivery of newspapers from next SundayChief Minister Uddhav Thackeray made important announcements on Sunday one of which was that newspapers will be home delivered from Sunday June 7 Vendors will have to be protected against the infection by managements he said He also announced the scrapping of final year university examinations and said students will be promoted based on the average of previous semesters He further said all districts will get stateoftheart infection hospitals He came down heavily on his political detractors for defaming the government He appealed to the people to cooperate as they begin their lives afresh and follow cautionCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest news