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Maharashtra forms 9-member task force of doctors to tackle coronavirus deaths

As the coronavirus mortality rate of the state is double than that of the rest of the country, the Maharashtra government on Monday formed a nine-member task force

Published on: Apr 13, 2020, 23:37:53 IST
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As the coronavirus mortality rate of the state is double than that of the rest of the country, the Maharashtra government on Monday formed a nine-member task force of specialist doctors from government and private hospitals to suggest measures to minimise the death rate and for the clinical management of the Covid-19 patients who are critically ill. The task force has been asked to submit its recommendations on urgent basis to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. Through a hotline, these doctors will also provide their inputs to the other doctors treating Covid-19 patients across the state.

HT Image
HT Image

The task force is headed by Dr Sanjay Oak, while Dr Praveen Bangar from KEM Hospital has been appointed as the task force’s convenor. The task force has been formed following directives issued by the chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. Thackeray also spoke to these doctors through video conferencing on Monday.

“It has been noticed that a large number of people have been detected in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation area and that the death rate of patients in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is higher than the state and national average. Hence, it has been decided to constitute a task force of specialist doctors to suggest measures to minimise death rate and clinical management of Covid-19 patients that are critically ill,” an order issued by chief secretary Ajoy Mehta stated.

The death toll of the state reached 160 after 11 deaths recorded on Monday. Maximum deaths are recorded in Mumbai 110.

Until Sunday, the state’s mortality rate was 7.41%, with 149 deaths and 1,982 positive cases as against the 3.35% of the rest of the country (307 deaths). Currently, Jharkhand has the highest mortality rate (10.53%), with two deaths among the total 19 case.

The other members of the task force are Dr Zahir Udwadia from PD Hinduja Hospital; Dr Santoshi Nagvekar from Lilavati Hospital; Dr Kedar Toraskar from Wockhardt Hospital; Dr Rahul Pandit from Fortis Hospital; Dr Nitin Karnik from Lokmanya Tilak Hospital; Dr Zahir Virani from Prince Aly Khan Hospital and Dr Om Srivastava from Kasturba and Jaslok Hospitals.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Faisal Malik

Faisal Malik is a senior journalist with over two and a half decades of experience covering Maharashtra’s politics, governance and public policy with a deep understanding of the state’s political landscape. He is a Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times and has been associated with its Mumbai edition for more than a decade. Based in Mumbai, Faisal currently covers three major political parties in Maharashtra — Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and NCP (Sharad Pawar). Over the years, he has extensively reported on major political developments, combining investigative insights with in-depth field reporting. His coverage has spanned a wide range of issues, from drought, farmer suicides, major development projects and grassroots challenges to major electoral battles, including three Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections — 2014, 2019 and 2024. Before joining Hindustan Times, he worked with ‘The Asian Age’ and ‘Dainik Bhaskar’. An avid tea enthusiast, he enjoys reading history, Urdu literature and classical poetry. When away from the newsroom, he writes Urdu poetry inspired by human emotions, life's experiences, meaningful reflections and relationships. An amateur photographer, Faisal is passionate about capturing moments that often go unnoticed by the naked eye.

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