Postpone non-COVID medical procedures to free up beds: Palghar collector Dr Manik Gursal

The collector also issued a set of guidelines to be followed by citizens and others in social distancing and sanitising.

Meanwhile, Vikramgad MLA Sunil Bhusara donated 12 ambulances bought using his MLA fund to the district health department.

The number of ambulances available in the district's remote tribal areas were insufficient and many more were needed to transport patients from villages to hospitals and health centre, he said.

Thane district collector Rajesh Narvekar has set up a round-the-clock war room to deal with the shortage of oxygen, it was stated.

The war room will be manned by a team of FDA officials who will monitor the procurement, storage and distribution of oxygen.

They will also keep a tab on patients and their progress at hospitals.

According to official data, Palghar district has recorded 60,665 COVID-19 cases, including 1,269 casualties, while Thane's tally of infections stood at 3,90,124 with 6,760 fatalities. 

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