The corona crisis in Mumbai

Corona Crisis in Mumbai

 

As we all know the cases in Mumbai are surging each fleeting day. Mumbai is opening in fragments and phases to help people get back on track.

The lockdown has made a large group of people economically drained. There is no money left with the poorer sections after a 61-day long lockdown. Many have lost jobs and it has been difficult ever since to find a new job, as the entire nation is suffering from the intensity of the coronavirus crisis. Many have voluntarily opted for pay cuts and are working on a mere 30-50% income which may be the case for the next few months till the economy revives. The unemployment catastrophe is on a rise ever since the corona encounter.  People are finding it difficult to cope up with the existing expenses, EMI’s, Children’s school fees, education loans, personal loans, etc. Many small business sectors have had a severe effect on their businesses. In this situation, it is obligatory for the government to find ways and start working towards stimulating the economy

Coronavirus is an infectious disease and it is going to spread rapidly unless we discover a vaccine or a legitimate medicine. People cannot be held back in lockdown forever and hence the opening up is an obligatory step. The Government is taking one step at a time. The rising numbers are not the only concern anymore.

So, what are the concerns and the required actions to be taken by the government on an urgent basis?

• Providing timely medical facilities to the affected
• Procuring beds and other medical equipment like oxygen and ventilators
• Making space for the new admissions
• Treating and discharging the patients within a specified timeline
• Managing the death toll numbers
• Providing enough testing in the rural and slum areas
• Making quarantine centers accessible with proper medical care facilities and hygienic conditions to the locals
• Providing job security and health security to the healthcare workers and other medical staff
• Making provisions for COVID care accommodations in private hospitals with a standard rate chart
• Increasing the number of ambulances
• Fiscal financial aids to the weaker sections of the society

 

 

All these and many more measures have to be taken by the government in order to facilitate and balance the pandemic situation, else the situation can worsen in no time. We have seen the ever-increasing numbers of the united states of America, Italy, Spain, Brazil, UK, Israel all these countries are fighting a battle to save the lives of innocent people being victims of the deadly virus. India is the second-largest populated country in the world and therefore there are rising concerns over the intensifying cases each passing day. 

We have come across few viral videos where the general people are seen suffering in the corridors of the hospitals, in quarantine centers, being denied admissions, apparently, all the ICU beds are occupied to its brim. Hospital staffs are overloaded with fresh and existing cases.

Recently a doctor from Chembur was detected positive for coronavirus and his wife was desperately trying to find a bed for him in all the government hospitals. After several attempts, they finally got a bed, however, the ambulance could not reach on time. As a result, the renowned Doctor lost his life to COVID-19.

In another case that was reported in Mumbai, the nursing staff and healthcare workers are not been tested for the coronavirus, as a result, they are under constant risk and their only concern is “how do we protect ourselves and what if the Virus affects our family members?

Slum-dwellers have a different problem altogether, as many as 10-12 people live in a small shanty in a slum-like Dharavi. How are they supposed to follow the social distancing norms?

They have to use common toilets which are unhygienic and are responsible for the spread of infections. With the Monsoons approaching, the number of dengue and malaria cases tend to go up every year, hence it is a crucial period to conquer the spread of the virus at this stage.

Many news channels covered the ground situation of the various government hospitals of Mumbai, like KEM, SION hospital, Nair Hospital, etc. The teams met the Healthcare workers, Doctors, nurses. Sadly, they appeared to be stressed and overworked. There is absolutely no space for new admissions. Patients are denied entry and are made to wait for a longer duration until the time there is a discharge in the hospital. The waiting list is increasing on a day-on-day basis. The ambulances are not sufficient to meet the needs of the increasing affected population. Doctors have to be available to the patients round the clock and that increases the risk of contraction of the disease. It is suffocating to be in the PPE’s for 6 hours at a stretch. The AC’s are switched off and the windows are kept open for the circulation of fresh air. The situation in these hospitals is critical as there is no space left at the morgues too. A Viral video was in circulation lately showcasing the condition of Sion hospital where the patients had to be kept near the dead bodies which were unclaimed or apparently had no space to be transferred to the morgues

We have been listening to some fairly bold speeches of the CMO Maharashtra all this while, his positivity towards handling the pandemic is worth applauding. Mumbai being the worst hit in India has the highest population of slum dwellers. Also being a financial capital of India, it was inevitable that the cases would surge to an extreme level. However, the good news is that the recovery rate is increasing too (48%). The government has taken measures to develop fully functional makeshift hospitals in various areas in Mumbai and assured that these facilities will definitely help increase the volume of beds in Mumbai. Mumbai is in desperate need of extra beds and additional service providers.

As of now, 1008 beds are vacant in BKC, while about 80-90% capacity of beds is occupied in the Worli NSCI Dome. Goregaon NESCO ground facility has as many as 50 patients admitted so far with a capacity pf 290 oxygenated beds.  

There are many videos in circulation on social media about the non-availability of beds in government-run hospitals. Opposition parties are blaming the government that the beds are not enough for the increasing number of patients in Mumbai, However, BMC denies the claim and has specified that they have many oxygenated beds available at the makeshift facilities that can be used by asymptomatic or patients with mild symptoms. Also, BKC has developed a 1000 beds capacity makeshift hospital in its phase 2. More facilities are coming up in Mulund.

Most patients prefer Standard hospitals instead of makeshift hospitals on the ground. They complain of not having enough caretakers or doctors available to serve or to look after the patients. Hence, many beds remain vacant in these facilities, while patients are struggling to find a place in civic-run hospitals. MMRDA chief mentions in his interview to a news channel that they have enough normal beds, quarantine beds, and also oxygenated beds available for the patients, and more are being added.

CMO has also made an appeal to the private hospitals to start their operations so as to decrease the burden on the existing government hospitals. All the personal protective gears are now available nationwide and hence it won’t be an issue for the private sectors to chip in and work towards improvement

 

 

For decades the healthcare system in India has been disregarded and ignored. As a result, a large number of populations had to suffer during this pandemic. Governments all across the country are making enormous efforts to improve the hospital infrastructure and make arrangements for additional facilities rapidly. It is critical to work towards developing the capacity and find more resources to manage the pandemic situation before it worsens. The government has to take drastic and quick steps and employ the task force and get ready for the next big wave of infection.

Another News in circulation was about the vaccine. British pharma giant Astra Zeneca is on track with the vaccine and is expected to roll out two billion doses of coronavirus vaccine if the ongoing trials prove to be successful. The company is partnering with oxford university and has started the production even before the final approval from the regulatory. It has also partnered with The Serum Institute of India, which is the largest vaccine manufacturing unit based in Pune, to double up the manufacturing process of the vaccine.  

Astra Zeneca is producing the vaccine on a nonprofit basis and could lose money if the trials prove disappointing. As many as 10000 trails are being done and soon the trials would take place in Brazil in midweek of June.

Now it’s all about living with the virus until we find a vaccine. We have to find new ways to live our life, as normally as possible. The offices, shops have been given permissions to reopen in phases.  Malls, Restaurants, schools, gyms, pubs, trains, cinema halls, sports clubs, public transports, etc. shall remain closed in Mumbai till further notice. Slowly our Mumbai is trying to get back on track.

We have to responsible for our actions. As the Mumbai opens up, here are a few precautions that need to be taken by every individual.

• Maintain individual hygiene, wash your hands often
• Cover your face with mask each time you step out of the house
• Put your clothes for washing once you come back from outside
• Kids below 5 years of age and senior citizens need to remain in homes as much as possible
• Do not loiter around in public if you don’t have any binding reason
• Stay home as much as possible
• Do Not socialize and attend gatherings
• Meet your friends and extended family members by upholding the social distancing norms
• Always follow social distancing norms at work-places
• Do not eat outside or roadside food, instead carry your own food
• Do not meet anybody unless important, use zoom calls/phone calls

Although Mumbai seems to open up in phases, it does not mean that we a free to go out for a trip. We have to be vigilant and extra cautious and try and keep our immunity levels robust.

Eat healthily, think positive, exercise, go for a walk, dive into the fresh air(alone), shield yourself and protect your family