20 COVID-related deaths were recorded in Maharashtra in the past 24 hours, as Mumbai logged 2,510 cases- an 82% jump over 28 December.

Mumbai is prepping for a massive spike and State Cabinet Minister Aaditya Thackeray met civic officials to chart a contingency plan.

Preventive Measures In Mumbai For Omicron

The BMC is planning to increase hospital infrastructure and arrange for medication and oxygen supplies as there is increased focus on vaccination, for both adults and children, proposed vaccination for ages 15-18 is to be carried out in early January

All public places in the city will remain shut on December 31. Strict action will be taken against establishments that violate guidelines during the New Year festivities, Mr Thackeray said. The authorities will employ flying squads and CCTV footage to detect rule-breakers and those flouting the norms will be sealed for the next few months.

The authorities are also preparing a list of health workers, frontline staff and senior citizens who are eligible to take the third ‘booster’ dose of the COVID vaccine, which is to be administered nine months after the second shot.

All COVID jumbo centres have been asked to be on ‘stand-by, at all readiness levels, along with basic facilities to medical infrastructure’ Mr. Thackeray tweeted. Testing and tracing protocols have been reviewed too.

54,000 beds are available in the city at present in hospitals and COVID centres.

Discussions were also held on COVID-appropriate behaviour guidelines in public places, even as celebrations were to be shut.

The COVID spike rate in Mumbai has been very high, with cases registering a 188 per cent high in three weeks starting December 8, leading to increasing concerns among authorities.

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