New Delhi: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Saturday received 99,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine amid increasing cases of Covid-19 in Mumbai. The Mumbai Municipal Body said that vaccines would be distributed at the civil and government-run vaccine centers for vaccination.
The BMC said in a statement on Friday that private vaccination centers in Mumbai would remain closed till Monday. However, vaccination is employed in all government and municipal hospitals. The civic body assured the people that it would get some stock of the vaccine by night, and the administration would try to resume vaccination in private hospitals.
Subsequently, the inoculation drive will take place on April 10 (12 pm-6pm) and April 11 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm) only in government and municipal hospitals. The civic body said that the first session would be held from 12 noon to 6 pm on Saturday 10 April at vaccination centers run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra government. In the centers where two regular sessions are being planned, the second session will continue till 8 pm. These include vaccination centers at KEM Hospital, Nair Hospital, Rajwadi Hospital, Mahim Maternity Hospital and BKC Jumbo Covid Center.
The BMC said on Thursday that 25 private Mumbai hospitals could not get vaccinated due to lack of dose. The civic body said that the jabs could not be administered in 25 of the 71 approved vaccination centers as the dose was out of stock at these private facilities. There are 49 vaccination centers in government and BMC-run hospitals in the metropolis, while 71 are set up in private hospitals, and around 50,000 people are being vaccinated daily according to BMC data.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Saturday that Maharashtra has received 1.10 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines so far. Talking to reporters, Javadekar said that apart from Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan, there are two other states which have received doses of over 1 crore. He also said that more than 1,100 ventilators would be made available in the next three days to Maharashtra most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. He said that oxygen supply has also been made from industrial production units.
Given the alarming increase in Covid-19 cases, the Maharashtra government has imposed a weekend-long lockdown across the state. However, those eligible for vaccination may visit vaccination centers during curfew on medical grounds. Officials said on Saturday that the lockout, which took place over the weekend, triggered positive reactions from people from roads and markets in most parts of the state, including Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad and Nagpur. However, at some places in the state, including some market areas in Mumbai, a large number of people were seen gathering at one place and following social discrimination and other norms.
The lockout of the first weekend in the state started at 8 pm on Friday and will continue till 7 am on Monday. The weekend lockdown was announced on Sunday, when the state government also announced some other restrictions, such as nighttime curfew on weekdays and prohibitive orders during the day as its ‘break the chain’ Covid-19 works. Will remain in force as part of the plan. The weekend lockdown and other curbs will continue until April 30.
In the financial capital of the country, some areas like South Mumbai were completely deserted due to the lockdown. But people in some other areas of the city, such as the market area in the central parts and some suburbs in the eastern parts, can be seen getting out of their homes and crowding at some points. Eyewitnesses said that a large number of people were seen at Dadar Sabzi Mandi, many of whom did not even wear masks.
In many places in the city, people also created a ruckus outside liquor shops. The Mumbai Police has deployed personnel to ensure that people follow the rules. Taking to Twitter, the Mumbai Police had said, “Indoor Mode: On!” Recalling about the weekend lockdown from 8 pm on Friday evening until 7 am on Monday. We urge all citizens not to proceed except in essential services or medical emergencies. Stay at home, Mumbaikar. Help Mumbai be safe! “
(With agency inputs)