30% deaths recorded in city in past 7 days
The death toll in the city due to Covid-19 reached 800, with 43 deaths reported on Tuesday alone. Fifteen of these 43 deaths were recorded between May 6 and 15 but were added to the count only yesterday.
Of the total deaths in Mumbai, 30% were recorded in the past seven days alone.
Total cases in Mumbai have now crossed the 22,000 mark and the deaths have reached 800 due to Covid-19, 244 of which were recorded between May 13 and 19. According to statistics based on data released by the ministry of state health and family welfare, the city witnesses an average one death per hour due to Covid-19. At the state level, on average, two deaths due to the coronavirus are reported per hour.
As per data released by the state health department, between May 10 and 18, Maharashtra recorded 417 deaths, of which 249 were in Mumbai. This equates to an average of 1.93 (state) and 1.15 (city) deaths per hour.
On May 18, the state’s infected count reached 35,058, with 12,887 new cases reported in one day. Mumbai recorded 1,411 new cases the same day, taking the total in the city to 22,746.
One of the largest slums of the country, Dharavi, has reported 1,353 cases so far, of which 26 were reported on Tuesday.
The G north ward which covers Dadar, Mahim, and Dharavi, is one of the administrative wards with the highest number of Covid-19 cases.
The ward has a total of 1,763 cases so far, of which 234 are in Mahim and 176 cases are from Dadar.
According to BMC data, there are 5,030 beds in dedicated Covid hospitals (DCH), which includes 38 public and private hospitals.
The capacity of dedicated Covid health centres (DCHC) is 1,100 beds in 19 hospitals with public sector hospitals accounting for 868 of the bed capacity.
In a press release issued by the BMC on Tuesday, the civic body said, “In all, the target is to achieve 10,000 beds of DCH and DCHC. The intensive care unit (ICU) beds currently available are 535, which is being augmented to 1,000 beds.”
Five wards — T ward (Mulund), RN ward (Dahisar), C Ward (Marine Lines), B Ward (Dongri) and RC ward (Borivli) — that had the lowest number of Covid-19 cases in the city are now inching towards the 500-mark. The growth has been fastest in T ward, with 216 cases last week but now they stand at 413.
According to BMC officials, the doubling rate in Mulund is currently around seven days that has to be increased to 10 days on a priority.
The rise in cases in the area has links to slums, majorly in Indira Nagar, followed by several cases having a connection to the APMC market and the clearing agents of Mumbai Port who have contributed to the spike. BMC said that many from the trading community, involved in essential services, spread the virus amongst their families which also contributed to the increase.
Kishore Gandhi, assistant municipal commissioner, T Ward, said, “The doubling rate is currently seven days and we have to increase it to break the chain. The outbreak that was earlier reported in slums is now much under control, however, the priority is to contain the virus in residential housing societies. ”
In Mulund, out of the total 413 cases, 116 have been cured followed by 10 deaths. About 66 buildings were sealed and there were 15 containment zones in the area.
The civic body is also setting up a quarantine facility of around 115 beds near Mulund check naka on the land that was being used for octroi naka. Mihir Kotecha, BJP MLA from Mulund said, “The facility is being made ready. It will be up for use in the next 48 hours.” According to BMC’S data last week, T Ward and RN ward that includes Dahisar and parts of Borivli, have growth rates of 18% and 11% respectively. RN Ward that had the lowest number of cases, had 192 till Monday compared to 101 on May 12, followed by C Ward including Marine Lines and Kalbadevi, with 234 cases till Monday compared to 134 on May 12. Further, at R Central Ward (Borivli) there were 221 cases on May 12 followed by 347 on Tuesday.
At B ward (Dongri), cases rose from 184 on May 12 to 221 on Monday.
AS PER THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DATA, MAHARASHTRA RECORDED 417 DEATHS BETWEEN MAY 10 AND 18, OF WHICH 249 WERE IN MUMBAI