4 months of lockdown, Maha Covid tally continues to rise
MUMBAI: Four months into the coronavirus-enforced lockdown, with staggered relaxation and reimposition of curbs in between, the spread of Covid-19 is not showing any signs of slowing down in Maharashtra.
The country’s worst-hit state on Thursday reported 9,895 new cases and 298 more deaths, taking the tally to 347,502 and toll to 12,854. It was the state’s secondhighest single-day spike in cases and highest 24-hour jump in fatalities. Maharashtra has 140,092 active cases and 194,253 recoveries, as of Thursday. The state’s recovery rate improved to 55.9% after 6,484 more patients recovered in the past 24 hours. Mumbai, which has been showing signs of improvement, reported 1,245 new infections and 55 more deaths, taking the tally to 105,923 and toll to 5,930.
The Maharashtra government started a gradual lockdown since mid-march, after the first case of Covid-19 was reported in Pune on March 9. It announced a lockdown across the state, sealing district and state boundaries, a day before the nationwide lockdown was announced by PM Narendra Modi on March 24. However, the numbers of cases and fatalities are rising to record highs after curbs were lifted to boost the state economy. According to data, nearly 78% of cases have been recorded after lockdown restrictions were lifted. State officials said the number of patients and toll could have been more had it not been for timely lockdown.
State health department officials said the surge in cases was expected to continue through August, and the cases can plateau in September.