When more than 20% of flats have COVID-19 patients, BMC to seal the floor, building or wing

On Monday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) released a revised protocol for closing premises with numerous covid19 sufferers. According to the amended protocol, if more than 20% of the occupied number of flats in the building or a wing of the building complex/society is impacted with covid-19 patients, the entire building or a wing of the building complex/society must be shut, according to BMC. According to the previous protocol, if there are 10 or more instances from the same building or if the above cases are from two or more floors, the entire building is sealed. If single/bulk cases are detected in a single home or level, a portion of the building, such as a wing or floor, is sealed. However, if the sealing of a floor/wing is not sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID-19 positive cases, the respective Assistant Commissioner/Medical Officer of Health (MOH) must make the ultimate decision.

"With the current threat of increasing covid-19 cases in Mumbai, as well as the identification of a Variant of Concern (VoC) omicron suggesting enhanced transmissibility, earlier directives for sealed buildings issued on March 3, 2021, have been modified. The updated norms will take effect on January 4, 2022 "According to the circular issued by the BMC.

Residents must exercise caution which is as follows:

1. While in-home quarantine, the patient and contacts must rigorously adhere to the current requirements for home isolation and sanitary etiquette.

2. The patient must be separated for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms/testing (in the case of asymptomatic patients) and must not have a fever for a period of three days.

3. High-risk contacts must be confined at home for a period of seven days. They will be tested on the 5th to 7th day, or as soon as they become symptomatic and further protocols will be followed based on the findings of their tests. The building managing committee will take great care to ensure that the families in Quarantine have access to food, medicine, and other necessities.

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