Merely 152 of over 10,000 beds at five active jumbo Covid Care Centres were occupied as on Thursday, leaving more than 9,800 vacancies. Moreover, the BMC has reserved 6,500 more beds at four other jumbo facilities amid the threat of a third wave.

The jumbo centres, temporary facilities set up to provide treatment to Covid-19 patients, proved extremely helpful in the first and second waves. After the devastating second wave between March and May, the BMC increased beds at jumbo centres and developed three new ones. The bed capacity increased to more than 15,000 from 7,500.