Health experts put onus on people for spike in cases
As Maharashtra grapples with a spike in coronavirus cases, health experts and government officials are putting the onus for the surge on people not following face mask and social distancing norms.
There is also talk of a fresh lockdown, days after reopening of public transport, educational institutions and religious places, as fresh cases from rural areas of the state and nonslum areas in Mumbai continue to increase.
The surge in COVID-19 cases continued in Maharashtra for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday, with 6281 new cases, the highest daily addition in 85 days, taking the state's caseload to 2093913.
Maharashtra's death toll now stands at 51753, with the case fatality rate at 2.47 per cent, well above the national figure of 1.42 per cent.
Dr Sanjay Oak, who heads the coronavirus task force comprising senior specialist doctors constituted on April 13 last year, said the latest spike cannot be termed a "second wave" of the coronavirus pandemic.
"People are not following Covid-appropriate behaviour.
They need to restrain themselves," he said.
Maharashtra Government's Principal Secretary (Health) Pradeep Vyas blamed people's "indiscipline and negligence" for the spike.
"There is laxity in following protocols. People are not adhering to Covid-appropriate behaviour," he said.
"Authorities have to tell people that coronavirus is still around and the masses should not be lax and negligent," Vyas said.
Maharashtra reported 6,112 new cases on Friday, the highest daily addition in 84 days, taking the caseload to 20,87,632. The last time Maharashtra had reported over 6,112 cases was on November 27 last year (6,185 cases).
In Mumbai, as the number of positive cases rose to 3.17 lakh, with the recent daily increase, BMC officials said the surge is being led by non-slum areas.
"Almost 90 per cent of the new cases are coming from buildings. Most of them are either asymptomatic or mild and prefer to stay at home, said additional municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani.