100,000 CASES AND COUNTING IN MAHA

COVID CRISIS Over 3,000 cases in state for third day in a row; Mumbai toll past 2,000; experts unsure when curve will flatten

MUMBAI:Ninety-six days since the first Covid-19 case was reported in Maharashtra, the state crossed the 100,000-mark on Friday, with an addition of 3,493 cases. The state’s coronavirus count stands at 101,141 cases. Fatalities in Maharashtra also rose to 3,717 as 127 more deaths were reported.

Mumbai, which is the worsthit city in India, recorded 1,366 new cases, taking its tally to 55,451, while 90 deaths took the city’s toll past the 2,000-mark to 2,044.

With the state reporting more than 3,000 cases daily for the past three days, the state government and health experts remained unsure about projections and trajectory of the virus curve.

While the rise of infections in Mumbai has been arrested over the past couple of weeks, with hotspots such as Dharavi and Worli Koliwada leading the way, cases across the state have seen a spike. Over the past week, the state has recorded 20,912 cases and 868 deaths — a daily average of 2,987 cases and 124 deaths till Friday.

Health officials said Mumbai’s case curve may flatten first, going by the current trend. The city’s daily rise in cases has dropped in comparison to the overall state figures over the past three weeks. Mumbai accounted for 63.73% of the state’s new cases on May 14, 56.47% on May 28, 49.06% on June 4 and 39.10% on Friday.

“This clearly indicates that the cases in other parts of the state are on the rise because the number of cases in Mumbai has dropped in proportion of its percentage with the state level cases,” said a health department official, on condition of anonymity. “The plateau in Mumbai cases is a positive sign. We are worried about the poor health infrastructure in other districts such as Amravati.”

Dr Om Shrivastava, infectious diseases specialist and a member of the task force appointed by the state government for the clinical management of critically-ill patients, said the curve in Mumbai will stabilise soon.

“The number of cases in Mumbai

has come down significantly in the past four weeks. We may expect flattening of the curve soon. But at the same time, in the rest of Maharashtra, the number of cases may rise. In June and July, the number of cases may keep rising and we need to be more cautious and observant. Once we get through these months, we will be in a position to see which direction we are moving,” he said.

Dr Avinash Supe, former KEM dean and member of the expert committee appointed by the state to recommend steps to curb the spread of the virus, said rise in the cases should not be a cause of worry to some extent.

“There are different trends in different areas of the state. While there is a plateau in some parts of the state, a few areas are emerging as hot spots. As long as we are ready with the infrastructure to handle the cases and treat the patients, as per their conditions, this should not be a cause for concern,” he said.

STATE GOVT’S

30 JUNE 1 5 6 7 8 9

12

CASES APRIL 7

1,000

APRIL 21

5,000

APRIL 30

10,000

MAY 9 20,000

MAY 16 30,000

MAY 21 40,000

MAY 24 50,000

MAY 29 60,000

June 1 70,000

June 5 80,000

June 9 90,000

June 12 100,000

DAYS