There has been a marginal drop in the daily covid cases across Mumbai and Maharashtra in the last 24 hours. The city has reported 2,255 new cases and two Covid-19 deaths on Friday, increasing the total count to 10,90,503, with 19,580 fatalities till now. It is the second highest single-day case reported after four months. Meanwhile, the doubling rate has dropped to 399 days, while the weekly growth rate has increased to 0.170 per cent.
“Two deaths have been reported in the city. A 86 year old Male with comorbidity Hypertension and a Heart condition. 57-year-old Female with comorbidity Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and Lung Cancer,” said a doctor.
Maharashtra has also reported 4,165 new infections and three covid fatalities in the last 24 hours, pushing its tally to 79,27,862, with 1,47,833 deaths so far. Moreover, the active cases have crossed the 20,000-mark in the state.
Dr Rahul Pandit, a member of the National Covid-19 Taskforce said that there are several factors for the surge in covid cases especially people who are not following covid-appropriate behaviour due to which virus is being circulated. “The main reason behind the surge is that the virus follows a pattern of resurgence and retreat. Also, for the last several months, people are not following the necessary precautions to avoid transmission. Hence, we are seeing a rise in the number of cases in a few districts and cities across Maharashtra. Moreover, there will be a surge in cases for the next three to four weeks,” he said.
Dr Ishwar Gilada, Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Secretary General Organised Medicine Academic Guild -OMAG said the current surge in Covid-19 cases globally as well as few pockets of India seems to be due to waning immunity - both natural immunity due to past infection or due to vaccine, it can be an immune escape as newer variants and sub-variants are known for immune escape, the higher gap in 2nd and third dose, lack of clarity in policy for a free third dose to below 60 populations, no vaccination for below 12 children and poor speed of vaccination in below 18.
“Well, this may be the beginning of the fresh wave of Covid-19, as Maharashtra, Kerala and Delhi have been leading the show in Covid surges all along during the last 28 months. BA.4, and BA.5 are known to have a marginally higher replication rate (R0). Even if that ends up being marginally higher numbers and resultant higher number of deaths, it still remains below 0.1%. We are much better off in India if we compare it to elsewhere. USA, Taiwan, North Korea, Brazil and Germany are contributing more than 50% of weekly cases globally. France, Italy, UK, Australia have high numbers,” he said.
