Rajesh Tope: State plans aggressive evacuation of suspected COVID-19 patients in Dharavi

Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said that the state Maharashtra government has planned to decided to aggressively evacuate suspected coronavirus patients from Dharavi and other hotspots and put them in institutional quarantine. 

This move has been planned to curb the spread of deadly virus. Dharavi slum area has now become one of the hotspot areas with 190 number of cases. 

"Houses in Dharavi are very small and 10-12 people live in a house. Even if we advise home quarantine, the shortage of space defeats the purpose," he said.

"We have discussed the issue with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Mumbai municipal commissioner Pravin Pardeshi. We have agreed that home quarantine would not be
helpful in Dharavi area where space shortage is a major challenge," he said.
  
In the evacuation process grounds of schools will be used for institutional quarantine shelters. The authorities have already started to make necessary arrangements.