For the 10th consecutive day, there were less than two lakh new infections recorded nationwide, with 1,14,460 new cases being reported in the last 24 hours, the lowest in the last two months. Maharashtra and its capital too are faring well, with under 15,000 cases being recorded in the state in the last 24 hours, and fewer than 1,000 cases in Mumbai for the seventh consecutive day.
On Sunday, 12,577 new cases and 233 deaths were reported in Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, pushing its tally to 58,31,781, with 1,00,130 fatalities till now. The recovery rate has touched 95 per cent, with 55,43,267 patients having recovered since the pandemic outbreak.
In the city too, less than 1,000 cases were recorded for the seventh day in a row, with 794 new cases and 20 fatalities being reported on Sunday, taking the total count to 7,11,601, with 15,038 deaths so far. The doubling rate has increased to 515 days, while the weekly growth rate has dropped to 0.13 per cent.
According to Dr Subhash Salunke, adviser to the Government of Maharashtra on Covid-19 management, it indicates the decline in transmission of the virus. “We will see further decline in the coming days but then for that, daily monitoring is required. We need to remember that virus is still present and can rise again. It can nullify all the gains that we have achieved in the lockdown if we continue to remain casual and don’t adopt Covid-appropriate behaviour,” said Dr Salunke.
Ever since there have been lockdown relaxations this month, crowding has been witnessed in many places in the state, with many going maskless and not observing social distancing.
“As unlocking will be gradual, we want more people to have received at least one shot of the Covid vaccine. Many options are being looked into. Public travel will continue to be regulated and work from home will continue to be encouraged,” said a senior health official.
Dr Rahul Pandit, state Covid taskforce member and Director, Critical Care, Fortis Hospitals, Mumbai, said, “The overall situation in the state has improved. However, there are some districts that continue to show red flags. So, the unlocking will have to be done accordingly.”
