Maharashtra cases go past China’s total tally of 83k
MUMBAI: Maharashtra recorded 3,007 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday that pushed its tally to 86,975, with India’s worst-hit state now overtaking China in the total number of infections. China, where the virus first emerged late last year, has a total of 83,036 cases, according to data by worldometers.info.
This is the second time Maharashtra has reported over 3,000 new cases in a single day. The spike comes a day before buses hit Mumbai’s streets and private offices open for the first time in months.
MUMBAI: Maharashtra recorded 3,007 coronavirus cases that pushed its tally to 86,975 on Sunday, a day before buses hit Mumbai’s streets and private offices open for the first time in nearly two-and-a-half months as part of the state government’s staggered plan to unlock India’s worst-affected state.
This is second time the state registered more than 3,000 cases in a day. On May 24, the state had reported 3041 cases, its highest one-day tally.
The death toll in the state also breached the 3,000 mark after 91 deaths were reported on Sunday. Of these, 30 deaths were in the last two days while the rest were between May 3 and June 3, clarified the state government. Mumbai recorded 61 deaths, the highest in one day. The city has logged 1,638 fatalities.
Mumbai added 1,420 new cases on Sunday that took its infection tally to 48,774.
As part of the government’s ‘Mission Begin Again’ from Monday, private offices in the Mumbai Metropolitan region (MMR) – which includes Mumbai city, suburban Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad – will operate with 10% strength or 10 people, whichever is more, with the rest working from home.
The government has mandated that all employers will have to take up sensitisation programmes to educate employees. Around 2,000 government buses are expected to ply on the city’s roads with only one passenger allowed on a seat and five people permitted to stand.
State government officials said they were expecting a surge in cases because of the fresh relaxations, but also held out hope that the curve will flatten in around 10 days.
Dr Sanjay Oak, head of a taskforce comprising 11 doctors constituted by the government for the clinical management of critically ill patients, said the flattening of the curve was 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. By that parameter, we are expecting it in the next 10 days. We also expect herd immunity to develop among people in the next few days,” Dr Oak added.
“There will be a rise in cases over the next 10 days in Mumbai owing to the fresh relaxations and resumption of activities but there is no need to worry as our health infrastructure is ready to deal with the situation,” he further said.
The state government has asked local authorities to brace for a spike in cases, with relaxations including inter-district travel within MMR and re-categorisation of red zones – where the maximum restrictions remain -- to only 18 cities.
“Most of the patients reported Covid positive in the rural parts and semi-urban areas are those who have travelled from big cities such as Mumbai and Pune. The authorities have been directed to monitor the influx minutely to contain the spread from these travellers,” said a senior official, wishing not to be named.
State health minister Rajesh Tope said that the state’s recovery rate was improving as 39,314 patients had recovered and discharged from various hospitals so far.
“The recovery rate now has reached to 45.72%. On Sunday, 1924 patients were recovered,” Tope said.