‘No need to panic as Covid cases at their lowest in Maharashtra, but caution advised’ – Times of India

MUMBAI: While Covid cases increase in Chinese cities, cases in Mumbai – the country’s worst hotspot during the first and second waves of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, respectively – are at the lowest ever. Between December 1 and 21, the city, which once recorded over 11,000 cases in a 24-hour span in April 2021, recorded 155 cases and only one death.
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The pattern is similar for the entire state: Maharashtra has recorded 600-odd cases and six deaths this month so far. “Clearly, there is no need to panic or even worry in Maharashtra,” said state surveillance officer Dr Pradip Awate. “We need to be cautious and be in a state of readiness, but not press the panic button.”
Doctors in the private sector, too, chorus the sentiment. A doctor from a corporate hospital said that no Covid patient has visited the OPD in three weeks. Infectious diseases specialist Dr Vasant Nagvekar, who is a member of the state government’s Covid task force, said, “It appears as of now that India is safe. There could be a blip in cases due to seasonal variation, but it’s unlikely that we will witness a repeat of the previous Covid waves that saw thousands hospitalised and dying.”
While lakhs of Covid tests used to be conducted across the state, the number runs in the thousands now. Dr Nilesh Shah from Metropolis Lab said testing numbers have dropped across India as compared to a year back. “The Covid situation is not concerning right now. Previously, people would rush for a Covid test the moment they got a fever, but not anymore,” he said. There is a possibility people are testing themselves at home, but were they to have severe clinical symptoms they would have turned up at hospitals. “But hospitalisations and deaths are down too,” he added.
Infectious diseases specialist Dr Umang Agarwal from Hinduja Hospital took a contrary view. “The recent surge in Covid cases abroad is undoubtedly worrisome as it’s an indicator we might be next,” he said. There is a need to get a precautionary shot, use masks and maintain social distancing.
Experts also said the state health machinery should be ready with a plan of action in case there is a rise in cases before the winter ends. During the earlier Covid waves, there was a gap in making tests widely available and opening up private sector hospital beds for patients.