Maha tally nears 83,000 as state readies for ‘Mission Begin Again’

nMUMBAI: The state on Saturday reported 2,739 new Covid-19 cases and 120 more deaths, taking the tally to 82,968. The death toll has risen to 2,969, even as the government moved towards easing curbs in a graded manner, which includes BEST resuming operations in the city from Monday — close to three months after it shut owing to the pandemic. The state expects the coronavirus case curve to start flattening within the next 10 days.

Mumbai, the worst-affected Indian city, saw 1,274 more cases, taking its count to 47,354, while the toll rose to 1,577 with 58 more deaths. The state’s recovery rate improved to 45.06% as 37,390 infected people have been discharged so far. A total of 2,234 patients recovered in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate slightly increased to 3.57% as the past five days have seen an average of more than 100 deaths reported per day. The state health department has, however, clarified that only 30 deaths happened in the past two days, while the remaining 90 casualties are from the May 3 to June 3.

The state government has started rolling out its ‘Mission Begin Again’ from Wednesday by extending more relaxations in a phase-wise manner. After allowing travelling within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and opening of shops on odd-even basis early this week, private offices will start operating with 10% of their staff from Monday.

Dr Sanjay Oak, who heads a task-force of 11 doctors constituted by the government for management of critically ill patients, said a flattening of the curve is expected by June 17. “I look at Wuhan where the flattening of the curve was witnessed on the 72nd or 76th day of the lockdown, and by that parameter, we expect it in the next ten days. We also expect herd immunity to develop among people in the next few days,” he said.

According to officials, authorities have been directed to tighten curbs in containment zones and at the same time improve health infrastructure at the local level. “There will be a rise in Covid-19 cases over the next few days after the beginning of relaxations in the lockdown .... said.

Meanwhile, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar warned private hospitals with strict action against negligence in treating infected patients.