BBMP reactivates CCCs despite people's reluctance to get admitted

Zonal officers are authorised to send Covid-19 patients to the CCCs, says BBMP

The BBMP opened its first Covid Care Centre (CCC) on Monday despite growing concerns among municipal officials about people’s hesitancy to get admitted.

Rajendra Cholan, Special Commissioner (Health), BBMP, said the first CCC at Haj Bhavan was opened on Monday.

“The centre has been set up with 200 beds and with six doctors. There will be two doctors for every 100 beds. Two doctors are on reserve,” Cholan said.

A Covid Care Centre set up by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at its Ghatage Convention Centre on Old Airport Road on July 17, 2020, will be reactivated on Tuesday with 186 beds.

The third and last CCC at National Games Village in Koramangala will be opened on Wednesday, Cholan added. “This last facility will have 200 beds,” he said, explaining that the centres will also serve to take the load off hospitals if the cases keep increasing.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said zonal officers are authorised to send Covid-19 patients to the CCCs from Wednesday.

The civic body said CCCs would house asymptomatic patients who cannot self-isolate themselves at home, such as slum dwellers.

However, concerns are growing as to how many people will check into the CCCs.

A BBMP source said the Palike is already facing resistance among Covid-positive slum dwellers.

“There is anger and fear over the potential loss of income. Most slum dwellers are daily wage workers. At least last year we were able to dole out ration kits to support families while the breadwinners were admitted to CCCs or hospitals. But those kits are not available this year,” the source said.

Three other centres

Rajendra Kataria, IAS, previously in-charge of Covid Care Centres, said even last year it took nearly two weeks for the officials to convince people to check into the CCCs. “I have confidence that people will start filtering into the centres in due course,” he said.

He said a further three centres are available for immediate deployment, if necessary.

“These are located at the Ayurveda centre at Majestic with 250 beds and Unani college and Homeopathy college on Magadi Road with 200 beds each,” Kataria revealed, adding that the centres had been discussed during a meeting with the chief secretary on March 14. “The infrastructure is all ready to activate these centres if required, with the medical staff to be taken from the Ayush centre,” Kataria said.