BMC launches ‘Mission Universal Testing’ to curb Covid curve in Mumbai

As Mumbai fights its hardest battle against coronavirus, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is seen making all efforts to prevent its spread. With this objective in mind, BMC will now test one lakh antigen under “Mission Universal Testing” starting from Wednesday. With this, reports of Covid tests will come within an hour. The body has also informed all the private hospitals to buy antigen kits so that private players can also test for Covid-19.

Now, the civic body has made an all-round plan for testing. With this decision, elderly doctors over the age of 70 years can take the tests without prescription and other people can take the test at home after having e-prescriptions.

BMC Additional Commissioner Suresh Kakani talked to The Daily Guardian and said that he was happy with BMC’s fight against the pandemic. “It is good news for the countrymen that in Mumbai, there has been a decrease in cases in the last few days. There were 1,500- 2,000 cases being reported every day, but since the last few days, it has reduced considerably. If we talk of yesterday, only 846 corona cases were reported in Mumbai. BMC is assuming that according to these statistics, corona is coming under control in Mumbai”.

Meanwhile, there were reports of some Covid patients gone missing in Mumbai. Talking about this Kakani said, “We are investigating this with the help of police. Such incidents shouldn’t reoccur but out of those missing patients, we’ve found many of them. Also it’s coming to notice that many had registered wrong addresses in the hospital.”

 He further added, “Corona patients are dying due to lack of oxygen at Mumbai’s KEM Hospital, BMC has ordered an inquiry on this. A committee of 5 people has been formed; it will investigate this matter. Death due to oxygen is not a prima facie but if it comes out after the investigation, strict action will be taken.”

He also informed that BMC has launched a big campaign against tyranny of private hospitals. “So far it received 200 complaints out of which 130 were found to be correct. Complaints were about private hospitals charging more bills. Rs 25 lakh charged by private hospitals have been refunded to the patients,” he said.