The Asian Age

7-month-old, 1-yr-old test positive in Maha

Total number of positive cases rise to 210 ■ Exodus of migrant workers poses major challenge to authoritie­s

- VRUSHALI PURANDARE

With fifteen new cases of Covid-19 in Maharashtr­a on Saturday, the total number of positive cases in Maharashtr­a rose to 210. The new patients included a seven-monthold baby and one-year-old boy, who were tested positive from a close contact and seven other cases were reported from neighbouri­ng areas.

The civic health authoritie­s stated that this is the first case of a baby developing Covid-19 through close contact. Dr Daksha Shah, deputy director of the BMC health department, said, “A sevenmonth-old baby boy from Mumbai suburbs is recuperati­ng at civic-run Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Medical College and the one-year-old from Vashi is at Kasturba hospital.”

When asked if anyone is critical among the two, “She denied and stated all are stable and recuperati­ng.”

She also confirmed that the 85-year-old male patient admitted in the privately-run Hinduja Hospital died late night on Thursday. He was a known case of diabetes mellitus and had a permanent pacemaker with no history of travel. He was in contact with a close relative who had travelled to the United Kingdom. The patient was tested positive on March 26.”

Maharashtr­a has the maximum number of confirmed coronaviru­s cases at 210 followed by Kerala at 187. District officials said that people are seriously following the lockdown. However, migrant workers are finding it difficult to return to their home towns in the absence of public or private transport, posing a challenge for the authoritie­s. The authoritie­s have asked the administra­tion to prevent people from travelling as they will expose themselves and others to risk.

 ?? — PTI ?? Locals throng to a market to buy vegetables during a nationwide lockdown in Mumbai on Saturday.
— PTI Locals throng to a market to buy vegetables during a nationwide lockdown in Mumbai on Saturday.

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