Mumbai on Thursday (March 18) recorded 2,877 new Covid-19 cases while 1193 patients were discharged. The city has witnessed the highest single-day spike in the cases since October 7 when 2,848 had tested postive. The number of cases in the city has shown a steady spike in March, following which the overall growth rate of infection in the city has jumped to 0.51 percent. The city recorded 8 deaths today.
Three weeks ago Mumbai's daily Covid-19 count was below 500. Since 17th February, the count crossed the 700-mark. With 2,877 new cases on Thursday, the cumulative case count of the city has jumped 3,52,835. The number of active cases in the city has jumped to 18,424.
The state on Wednesday reported 12,764 patients who recovered and discharged from hospitals taking the overall recovery count to 21,75,565. With this state's recovery rate was recorded at 90.79 per cent.
Meanwhile, after a gap of three months, Maharashtra, reported over 25,000 new Coronavirus cases indicating a sharp rise in the number of cases across the state. The state on Thursday reported 25,833 fresh Covid-19 cases, higher than March 17 (23,179). With 25,833 new cases today, the caseload in the state rose to 23,96,340 while 58 fatalities were reported.
The sudden spike in fresh infections in Maharashtra is being primarily attributed to two factors: the reopening, including that of the Mumbai local trains, and the mutant strain found in districts like Akola, Satara, Amravati etc. While a weekend lockdown has been imposed in Amravati and Akola, Yavatmal is under a 10-day lockdown, which started last Thursday.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has ruled out any plans to impose lockdown in Mumbai, though the city has been brought under strong surveillance with BMC also stepping up containment measures.
