Navi Mum sees 21% rise in daily cases; doubling rate up by 20%

Civic officials claim increase not significant as average daily Covid cases below 60; situation still under control

NAVI MUMBAI: In the last 15 days, the daily new Covid cases in Navi Mumbai has seen a 21% surge while the doubling rate has gone up by 20%. The doubling days, which were 1,876 days in August, are now 1,496 days.

According to the civic officials, the average daily cases are still not above 60, hence the increase is not significant and the situation is still stable.

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) chief, Abhijit Bangar, said, “The increase in cases can be considered only when the number of daily cases is in three digits. Even now, the average cases are not beyond 60 and hence we cannot call it a significant surge. With everything opening up, there are chances of cases going up in the coming weeks.”

Dr Chandrashekhar T, Chief Intensivist of Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, said, “Considering the ongoing pandemic, there is always anxiety about when the third wave will hit. If we look into the past week, a marginal increase in cases was being seen. We have to closely watch the next 20-30 days. With the resumption of public movement in Navi Mumbai, we now need to strictly follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and continue with well-established strategies of testing and screening, isolation, etc. Navi Mumbaikars must be extra vigilant as the paediatric age group is yet to be jabbed.”

There are currently 299 people under home isolation, of which 30 are above 60 years and 46 are above 50 years. Meanwhile, in the last week of August, the number of people home isolated were 215, of which 22 were above 60 years and 32 above 50 years. According to the civic body, due to less intensity of the disease and acceptance among people, home isolation has increased.

“The anxiety level among the people regarding Covid has reduced and people have started accepting when they are found to be positive and hence more people are comfortable with home isolation. Earlier, the anxiety around the disease was more, due to which most of them got admitted. Moreover, due to vaccination, the intensity of the disease is low and so are the complications,” Bangar said.

Meanwhile, due to the increase in the number of recoveries, the active cases have gone down. Around 15 days back, the average recovery daily was 53. It is now 75, due to which the active patients numbering 723 then are 625 now in Navi.

Currently, the active cases are the highest in Belapur ward with 142 while the least is at Digha ward with 19. Meanwhile, Indira Nagar and Chinchpada UPHCs have no active cases currently.

With the relaxation in lockdown rules, people in large numbers brave the rain and flock a market area in Thane on Thursday.