Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation has converted hostels of 15 educational institutes into Covid Care Centres which has resulted in an increase in quarantine and isolation bed capacity by 5000.

Pune city is witnessing a consistent rise in Covid-19 cases with more than thousand patients being diagnosed positive for the contagious disease. As a result, the existing public and private healthcare infrastructure setup has proved to be inadequate. PMC has been forced to look out for other alternatives where patients can be kept in quarantine and isolation. Earlier, the civic body had acquired some private properties for this purpose. Now, PMC has asked 15 educational institutes to provide their hostels to be used as quarantine facility for the next six months. Those patients who have been advised to stay in isolation or quarantine but do not have enough or separate space at home will be admitted to these new centres.

Sunil Khedekar, Public Relations Head, Pune Mahanagar, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh said, “Of the several social projects being carried out under the Samarth Bharat Abhiyan of RSS, one of the project has been converted to quarantine centre and patients are being admitted there. At present, we have made arrangements in Garware College. In August first week, arrangements will be made in hostels of SP College and Maharshi Karve Shikshan Sanstha at Deccan.”

Rajendra Muthe, Deputy Commissioner of Pune Municipal Corporation said, “We expect that the total number of Covid-19 cases is going to increase in the near future. So we have made arranged quarantine facilities in 15 educational institutes and their hostels. Volunteers from various social organisations and Ganesh Mandals will be deputed there to help the patients. This arrangement has been done for six months.”