Mumbai doesn’t need lockdown, only 200 being referred to hospitals daily: BMC Chief – Economic Times

Mumbai: While several places in Maharashtra are again heading for lockdown, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said Mumbai does not need it and the situation is under control.

“We are in total control of the situation. Yes, we are getting around 1,200 cases daily. However, more than 80% of these people have had a travel history. They have come from cities around Mumbai. The Dahisar belt in the western suburbs is getting impacted due to its proximity to Vasai-Virar and Mira Bhayandar and the Mulund Bhandup region. If you leave these wards, then other wards in the city are getting only around 300 cases per day,” said Chahal.

According to him, unlike other cities such as Thane, Navi Mumbai and Kalyan Dombivli, Mumbai does not need a lockdown. “We have boosted testing resources. Now, we are conducting more than 6,500 tests daily. We have relaxed restrictions since June 1. There are 1 crore people on the streets daily. Yet, we have only 1,200 cases per day, which shows that our policy of chase the virus has succeeded,” he said.

Chahal said the civic body will be trying to being down the cases between 500 and 1,000 per day, in the next few days. He said the pandemic is on the verge of being controlled in the city as Mumbai’s R (rate of people getting infected by a Covid-19 patient) is 1.1. “Technically, anything below 1.0 means the pandemic is over. So, we are getting there.”

According to the municipal commissioner, the 1,200 cases per day are not worrying as only “150 to 200 of them are symptomatic” and are hospitalised.

The hospital situation in Mumbai has also improved. According to Chahal, Mumbai hospitals are now treating 1,000 patients from adjoining cities.

Chahal batted for a lockdown in the neighbouring cities of Mumbai, saying “it was a matter of concern that Mumbai had 22,000 active cases while Thane had 32, 000”. The Commissioner said these cities need to follow the BMC’s “chase the virus policy”.

According to him, over 3,050 people, including civic staff, doctors and other health care personnel, have been infected.