PCMC: Six hotels converted into COVID Care Centres due to lack of hospital beds

Rahul Kumar

Pimpri, 23 July 2020: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has allowed six hotels to convert into Coronavirus Disease (COVID) Care Centres. These centres are charging up to Rs 2000 per person per day for providing quarantine or isolation room facilities. Asymptomatic patients are being advised home isolation.

A hotel official in Wakad said that the rate can go up to Rs 2800 to 3000 per day if someone else from the family is also staying. The charges include tea, breakfast, and lunch for two times a day along with the internet connection, hot water supply, television, and other entertainment facilities. And if someone has booked 14 days earlier then discounts are also offered.

Another centre operator explained that the rooms are sanitized every day. The patients who are stamped for home quarantine or those who can produce a COVID-19 positive test report are given entry in the centre. A letter from the doctor is also advised. The patient has to coordinate with his doctor regularly and take medicine prescribed by his doctors.

The civic body has asked hotels to remain shut as per the lockdown order of the central and state government till July 31. Because of the lockdown, these properties were making losses so they asked permission to start COVID centre so that it becomes easy to pay the salaries and other expenses. The PCMC allowed them to start privately run COVID centre.

The patients were finding it difficult to find a bed and a good facility centre near their home. The privately managed COVID Care Centres has solved both the problems. However, the municipal corporation has advised them to abide by its guidelines and norms. Efforts are being taken to start the new COVID care centres. The municipal body has to arrange more beds as soon as possible.

According to PCMC, the total number of Coronavirus positive patients has reached 13107 out of which 8014 have been cured while 238 have died. 3379 active patients are still undergoing treatment. Yesterday 886 new Coronavirus Disease (COVID19) patients were reported in PCMC areas. Also, 203 people got discharged from hospitals while 12 people died.