Thiruvananthapuram : Mumbai, where the COVID-19 rages uncontrolled, the crisis is far too severe, said medical team from Kerala on state duty there. People in thousands test positive for the virus and dozens are succumbing to its complications each day. Facilities at all private hospitals have been taken up. People in serious conditions are criss-crossing all over the city in ambulances, searching for ICU facilities and several end up dying in their ambulance itself. The city dwellers are standing helpless faced with the dreadful spread that’s unfolding at rapid pace, said Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Deputy Superintend Dr. SS Santhosh Kumar.
Covid spread has become simply uncontrollable in Maharashtra especially Mumbai, where the enormity is beyond our imagination, said Dr Santhosh, With growing number of health staff contracting the virus, operations at several hospitals have come to a standstill. Streets are being choked as people run about in desperation to save their lives or that of a loved one. Unlike in Kerala, the state machinery is unable to administer effective curbs on the spread, said Dr. Santhosh Kumar pointed out.
The source of infection in majority patients remains untraced. Any new Covid centre opened is filled into within minutes.
The Mumbai Municipal Corporation had planned to set up a Covid facility at Mahalaxmi Race Course. The plan was however abandoned after cyclone threat to the region. The state govt took over “Seven Hill”, a large hospital with 1500 beds to cope up with the pandemic. 700 patients have been admitted to the facility since. There are only 20 ICU beds at the hospital however. A 18-member medical team from Kerala set up an additional 20 Intensive Care facilities there on Tuesday. The team targets setting up a total of 200 ICU beds.
A pool of 20 ICU beds requires 45 nurses and 70 health workers to manage it i.e. apart from sanitation workers needed for the maintenance. 20 nurses have arrived from Kerala on Wednesday. Health staff are reaching Mumbai from different parts of the country to help with situation there. It is heartening to know that the majority among them are Malayalis, said Dr Santhosh Kumar.
