Maharashtra reported 522 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the total number of the infected people to over 8,500. With 27 more fatalities, the overall COVID-19 death toll in the state mounted to 369. Mumbai has recorded the highest number of coronavirus cases of any Indian city at over 5,500. The city has accounted for 39 cases and 15 fatalities taking the number of deaths so far to 219.
Authorities in Mumbai are now planning to convert municipal schools into quarantine facilities for COVID-19 patients.
As reported by sources to NDTV, The BMC will use some of the 1,200 schools that come under it. This decision to ramp up quarantine facilities was taken after a central government team visited Mumbai last week.
The BMC officials added that schools are well-suited for the purpose since they have adequate toilet facilities. The other reason is they are currently closed.
Other than the schools, the BMC is also looking at setting up facilities on major grounds in the city. One of them being the NESCO exhibition ground at Goregaon. NESCO can house 1,200 beds. Another facility that is being checked is the MMRDA exhibition ground in the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). Here, a 3,000-bed facility can be prepared.
15 BEST employees have tested positive for Covid-19 and of these one employee succumbed to the infection. Following three deaths in the Mumbai Police force due to coronavirus infection in the last few days, the Mumbai police have decided to take constables above 55 years off-duty.
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