A total of 60 BEST employees have tested positive for Covid 19

With 10860 cases reported on January 4, Mumbai observed another spike in corona infections. This includes employees of the Mumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST), who are seeing an increased number of Covid cases in the New Year. Since December 27, the Undertaking has been aware of an increase in Covid-19 cases, which is thought to represent the commencement of the third wave.

BEST authorities claim that starting on December 27, they went into overdrive to test their 34000-strong workforce for Covid. "We've checked about 1000 staff spread between 4-5 depots." We took prompt action by providing them medicines and hospitalised wherever they were determined to be Covid positive out of these 60.

They discovered 30 cases of Corona virus-infected employees as a result of these testing, while the remaining 30 were self-tested. According to sources, the majority of these people work in bus depots, primarily as bus drivers and conductors. The scenario could deteriorate, especially now that the BEST buses carry an average of more than 28.5 lakhs passengers every day.

Despite the fact that the government requires only fully vaccinated passengers to travel by public transportation, there is no way of knowing whether the traveller has received a double dosage of immunizations. BEST authorities agree that when providing tickets or ferrying customers, its employees come into direct contact with them.

However, it has been discovered that the Omicron type of Coronavirus affects the nose and throat, according to BEST authorities. And that the number of cases of cough and cold among staff may increase in the coming days. The BEST officials have already begun delivering vitamin C tablets to their personnel, along with other medicines and tablets.

On Tuesday, Mumbai experienced another significant increase in Covid infections, with 10860 new cases reported, up 34% from the 8082 cases reported on January 3. At least 89 percent of these illnesses are asymptomatic, amounting to roughly 9665. A total of 834 people required hospitalisation, with 52 requiring supplemental oxygen as well.

Image Courtesy: TOI