MUMBAI: Anticipating the third wave of coronavirus, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) has announced that it has embarked on a “Point of Care” testing drive for its 36,000-strong workforce.
Special monitoring will be done for workers who are prone to get infected, including those above 55 years of age and those with comorbidities, irrespective of whether they are vaccinated or not, said a senior official.
So far, 3,482 frontline workers have been infected by the virus, out of which 84 per cent of infections were reported in the first wave and 16 per cent in the second wave. “We have reviewed all severe cases in the first and second wave, and drivers/conductors who have the highest chance of getting the infection are being monitored regularly,” said BEST chief medical officer Anil Kumar Singal.
As part of the drive, Covid-19 tests of these employees will be carried out frequently, he stated.
BEST also released a chart showing that 147 workers had severe infection in the first wave, 443 moderate infection and 2020 mild infection. In the second wave, this reduced to 15 severe infections, 50 moderate and 276 mild infections. “Our effort will be to reduce the number of cases to bare minimum in the third wave,” said another senior official.
Statistics showed that in July last year (first wave), the cases had peaked at 767 positive patients that month while in August and September last year, the cases were 457 and 476 respectively. In the past two months, the cases had declined drastically. Also, while 80 per cent have received their first jab, nearly 55 per cent of drivers and conductors are completely vaccinated.
Special monitoring will be done for workers who are prone to get infected, including those above 55 years of age and those with comorbidities, irrespective of whether they are vaccinated or not, said a senior official.
So far, 3,482 frontline workers have been infected by the virus, out of which 84 per cent of infections were reported in the first wave and 16 per cent in the second wave. “We have reviewed all severe cases in the first and second wave, and drivers/conductors who have the highest chance of getting the infection are being monitored regularly,” said BEST chief medical officer Anil Kumar Singal.
As part of the drive, Covid-19 tests of these employees will be carried out frequently, he stated.
BEST also released a chart showing that 147 workers had severe infection in the first wave, 443 moderate infection and 2020 mild infection. In the second wave, this reduced to 15 severe infections, 50 moderate and 276 mild infections. “Our effort will be to reduce the number of cases to bare minimum in the third wave,” said another senior official.
Statistics showed that in July last year (first wave), the cases had peaked at 767 positive patients that month while in August and September last year, the cases were 457 and 476 respectively. In the past two months, the cases had declined drastically. Also, while 80 per cent have received their first jab, nearly 55 per cent of drivers and conductors are completely vaccinated.
