Maha sees another record spike of 6,364 cases; toll up to 4,762

MUMBAI RECORDED 1,338 NEW COVID CASES, TAKING ITS COUNT TO 82,074. THE HEALTH DEPT RECONCILED DATA FOR SANGLI AND 37 PATIENTS WHO WERE EARLIER REPORTED THERE WERE ADDED TO MUMBAI’S TALLY

MUMBAI: Maharashtra recorded more than 6,000 new Covid-19 infections and a record 24-hour spike in cases for the second consecutive day on Friday, as the state’s tally rose by 6,364 to 192,990. The state reported 198 fatalities, including 48 from previous weeks, taking its toll to 4,762.

Mumbai, the worst-hit city in Maharashtra, recorded 1,338 new cases, taking its case count to 82,074. The state health department reconciled data for Sangli and 37 patients who were earlier recorded there were added to Mumbai’s tally. The city reported 73 deaths in the past 48 hours, taking its toll to 4,762.

Senior government officials, on condition of anonymity, said the state is witnessing an increase in cases owing to targeted testing. These officials and independent experts said though there has been an increase in cases, the tally isn’t rising exponentially.

State health minister Rajesh Tope said the state’s case curve could flatten by August. Tope said several changes have been made in guidelines for testing and that no inferences can be made based on the positivity rate.