Mumbai: Covid doubling rate surges in SoBo, western suburbs – Times of India

Mumbai: From registering less than 10 cases daily in early November, civic ward A — comprising Fort and Colaba — has started seeing twice to triple the number. On Tuesday, 25 cases were registered in the ward, followed by 20 and 33 cases on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
The doubling time here has dropped from 1,424 days on November 12 to 699 now. Doubling rate, which represents the number of days it takes for Covid-19 cases to double, is an indicator of how quickly cases are increasing; lower the doubling rate, faster the cases multiply.
The city’s doubling rate has dropped (1,536) and the infection’s weekly growth rate has doubled from 0.02 to 0.05 in less than a month. The weekly growth rate is highest in ward A at 0.1% (double of the city’s rate).
Dr Gautam Bhansali from Bombay Hospital in New Marine Lines said there is a slight increase in the number of people calling up with Covid-positive report. “Number of people calling up for e-consult due to Covid has definitely gone up in the last one week, but most have mild symptoms and don’t need hospitalisation,” said Dr Bhansali.
The surge isn’t confined to ward A. Similar stories are unfolding in wards D (Malabar Hill), G-South (Worli, Lower Parel), H-West (Bandra-West) and the overcrowded K-East and West wards in Andheri. Malabar Hill saw 198 cases in a week, Bandra saw 189 cases and Worli 120. The doubling rate of cases has dropped below 1,000 days here. Andheri (W) saw the highest weekly increase in the city at 248.
BMC officials said the surge in A ward is possibly due to the high floating population. All shops and restaurants had been directed to check vaccination status of people and ensure social distancing.
BJP corporator from Colaba, Makarand Narwekar, said, “There is always a lot of floating population in south Mumbai, increasing the risk of Covid here. We have also urged all housing societies to follow Covid protocols.”