Covid cases dip in Mumbai, Maharashtra; eyes on effect of opening-up – Times of India

MUMBAI: The state recorded a significant drop in new Covid-19 cases, while Mumbai for the seventh day in a row, added less than 300 cases in a day. As local trains and malls opened on Sunday, civic authorities said that testing and tracing would be strengthened to note any surge in cases.
The state on Sunday added 4,797 cases, taking the cumulative count of Covid-19 cases to 63,92,660. It also recorded 130 deaths, taking the count of fatalities to 1,35,039. The highest number of cases was from Pune circle (1,982) and 55 deaths. Kolhapur circle added 921 cases, Nashik circle 901 cases and Mumbai circle added 699 cases.
Nagpur circle is now reporting cases in single digits. The entire administrative circle, including Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur, together reported seven cases and zero deaths. Akola circle, the first to see a surge in the second wave, saw 35 cases on Sunday. Amravati, which used to be a hotspot, reported six cases and zero deaths.
After unfurling the flag on Sunday at the state secretariat, Mantralaya, CM Uddhav Thackeray appealed to people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour though cases are under control. “We have experienced a spike in Covid cases, last year and in the second wave. Though numbers are under control as of now, we should be alert and adhere to strict Covid-appropriate behaviour,” Thackeray said, pointing out that availability of oxygen is limited. A taskforce member said oxygen availability remains the state’s only weak point in preparedness for the third wave.
Mumbai reported 262 cases that took the city’s tally to 7,39,331. Deaths continued to be in single digits. Four fatalities were reported on Sunday, taking the total toll to 15,981. Active cases dropped below 3,096. Three of the four deaths were of senior citizens. MMR also continued to report less than 1,000 cases a day. On Sunday, 699 cases and 12 deaths were reported from MMR.
Additional municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani said the city’s medical infrastructure is geared to tackle a spurt in cases. “We have knowledge and experience from the first and second waves to fall back on. Jumbo Covid centres have been operationalised while testing will be increased too,” he said, adding that in the second wave, Mumbaikars were more prompt in seeking care that helped reduce critical cases and deaths. “Mumbai’s death rate in the state wave remained under 1% and less than the average of other districts,” he said.