Mumbai, the city with the highest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in India, has given administrative heads of civic wards the power to take over private hospitals and nursing homes to fight the pandemic.
“…considering the high rate of Covid-19 spread, medical facilities available in municipal hospitals and government hospitals are proving to be inadequate to cope with the need of these facilities,” Praveen Pardeshi, the city's municipal commissioner, said in a May 5 order. “...in view of the of the prevailing situation of Covid-19 disease and its highly contagious nature, it is necessary and expedient to designate specific hospitals/ nursing homes to admit, treat and otherwise provide medical assistance to persons affected by or suffering from Covid-19.”
According to the order:
- All ward assistant commissioner are authorised and delegated the powers to designate and notify any private hospital/nursing home to be specified in such order, under Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and regulations framed thereunder.
- Disobeying or violations of such order of the ward assistant commissioner under Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and regulations framed there under is an offence punishable under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code 1860.
Maharashtra added 841 new Covid-19 cases taking the total tally to 15,525, according to the state health ministry. Total number of cases in Mumbai stands at 9,945 with Dharavi, one of the biggest slums in the world, emerging as a hotspot.
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