Coronavirus latest updates:-
No of patients in MH State rises to 32
Additional system to be activated in Kasturba Hospital for Corona tests
MPSC exams to be deferred till March 31 — Health Minister Rajesh Tope
· Collectors empowered to acquire beds in hospitals for isolation
· KEM Hospital to start system that can conduct 250 tests per day
· Testing facilities available at J J Hospital, Hafkin Institute, and B J Medical College, Pune
· Laboratories to be started at Medical Colleges at Dhule, Aurangabad, Miraj and Solapur
· 450 ventilators arranged separately for Corona patients
· 181,925 passengers examined at Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur International Airports arrived from1584 aircraft
Mumbai, Mar 15: With the Maharashtra COVID-19 Measures Notification in place against the background of the outbreak of Coronavirus, the District Collectors are authorized and empowered to acquire beds in private hospitals for isolation.
Meanwhile, to increase the testing in hospital laboratory, system will be activated in Kasturba Gandhi Hospital, Mumbai from Wednesday enabling conduction of 350 tests per day. Along with this, KEM Hospital will activate a system to conduct 250 tests per day. In coming 15-20 days, testing facility will be made available at J J Hospital, Hafkin Institute, and B J Medical College, Pune, informed Health Minister Rajesh Tope at a press conference here today.
Meanwhile, the government has instructed to shut schools, colleges, malls and museums in the state and the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) is told to postpone examinations till March 31, the Health Minister said.
32 Coronavirus patients are identified so fat in the state and laboratories will be started for testing suspected patients at Dhule, Aurangabad, Miraj and Solapur medical colleges, he said.
Giving more information in this regard, the Health Minister said the state government is taking all possible measures to secure health of the citizens and to avoid infections. People are urged to take journey as and when required and avoid unnecessary gatherings. Instructions are given to sanitize public transport system and public places. If required, 450 ventilators are kept ready for treatment of coronavirus patient and if required some more will be acquired from the private hospitals, he added.
The Health Minister today paid visit to Seven Hill Hospital and Kasturba Gandhi Hospital and laboratory in Mumbai. Seven Hill Hospital has facility to quarantine passengers coming from seven foreign countries. He was told about the facilities available here and availability of 1000 beds. Police are also deployed here; the Minister was informed.
Directions were issued to officers of BMC to resolve the issues of OPD in Kasturba Gandhi Hospital. There are 80 beds available for isolation and decision has been taken to increase additional 125 beds. At present the laboratory here conducts 100 tests. This will be increased to 250 tests per day and necessary system will be set up here. With the increased capacity this hospital can conduct 350 tests per day commencing from Wednesday.
Laboratories are being expanded for Coronavirus testing and under this program laboratories will be started at J J Hospital, Hafkin Institute and B J Medical College, Pune in coming 15-20 days. Patients admitted in isolation in Kasturba Gandhi Hospital are supplied newspaper, television and Wi-Fi facilities, the Health Minister said.
Instructions will be given to stop breathe analyzer test conducted on drivers by the police, Health Minister Tope said.
With five more patients in Pimpri-Chinchwad and 1 in Aurangabad, the total number of Coronavirus infected patients in the state has gone to 32. The 59-year-old women admitted in Aurangabad Hospital has traveled to Russia and Kazakhstan. She is reported to be stable.
95 suspected patients are admitted in the state today. Up to March 15, 181, 925 passengers coming to Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur international airports by 1584 aircraft.
1043 affected passengers have come to state so far. 758 patients are admitted in isolation wards in different towns from 18 January for complaints of fever, cold, cough. Out of them 669 patients have reported negative after the laboratory tests only 32 have posted positive. 75 suspected patients are admitted in the state in different isolation wards.
District and Municipal corporation-wise COVID-19 patients in the state is given below:-
Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation– 8 patients
Pune– 7,
Mumbai– 5,
Nagpur– 4,
Yavatmal– 2,
Thane–1, Kalyan–1,
Navi Mumbai–1, Aurangabad–1, Ahmednagar–1,
Total– 32.
The State Government has invoked Epidemic Act 1897 and according to Clause 2, 3, and 4 of the said act Maharashtra COVID-19 Notification 2020 has been issued. According to this notification Commissioner, Health Services, Director, Health Education and Research, all Divisional Commissioners, all District Collectors and Municipal Commissioners are declared competent authorities. They are vested with special powers for controlling this outbreak in their respective areas.
According to this notification,
- Isolation ward will be set in government and private hospitals earmarked by these officers.
- Diagnosis of COVID-19 will be mandatory in laboratories sponsored by the Central or State Government.
- Isolation of 14 days either at home or in isolation ward is compulsory as per the rules and the competent officers are authorized to take punitive action against those violating this rule.
- Competent officers are also vested with powers to take action against those spreading rumors or wrong information in respect of COVID-19 or against those obstructing the process to control the outbreak of this disease.
- The competent officers will also have the powers to declare any geographical area restricted in the wake of outbreak or to impose any other restrictions for controlling the outbreak.
