Amid a virulent second wave, as Mumbai scrambles for hospital beds, the civic authorities have said there was no need for panic since 3,685 beds were still available in the city for Covid-19 patients as of Tuesday evening. Also, after a surge there has been a decline with new cases coming down to 7,000-8,000, it said. Most cases were asymptomatic.

In the 24 hours to Tuesday evening, 7,680 people tested positive. Meanwhile, out of 422 case entries found to be duplicate by ICMR, 186 were found to be from Mumbai. The city recorded 7,072 new net cases, the BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) said in a statement.

BMC commissioner Iqbal Chahal said that since the start of the second wave Mumbai has 953 deaths in last 70 days with 2.66 lakh positive. “Our death rate has been 0.03% with 13.6 deaths every day in the last 70 days. Out of 45,000 tests conducted today, 7,000 cases were positive asymptomatic. For the last five days we are seeing a continuous decline in Covid positive cases as almost 87% of the cases are asymptomatic.”

As per the BMC dashboard, as on February 10 there were 3,13,206 Covid positive cases and 11,400 deaths out of which 9,862 deaths were of those more than 50 years old. Out of the total active 5,369 cases, 297 cases were critical. As against this, on April 18, total positive cases recorded were 5,79,311 with 12,347 deaths. As many as 10,730 deaths are in the age group above 50 years. Total active cases are 87,698 out of which 1,396 are critical.

In terms of bed capacity on February 11, total of 12, 925 DCHC +DCH+CCC2 beds 10,062 were vacant, out of total 1,707 ICU beds, 1,123 were vacant. Out of 6,869 oxygen beds, 5,658 oxygen beds were vacant and out of 1,033 ventilator beds, 641 were vacant. In comparison, on April 19, total bed capacity stands enhanced to 28,322 out of which 6,369 beds were lying vacant. Out of 10,274 oxygen beds 564 were vacant and out of 2,762 ICU beds 43 stood vacant. Twenty beds out of total 1,410 ventilator beds were vacant.  

Speaking of the capital city of Delhi on April 19, out of 18231 hospital beds, 3,016 were vacant, out of the 5,525 DCCC (dedicated Covid care centre), 4,979 beds were vacant and out of the 132 DCHC (dedicated Covid health care) beds, 29 were vacant. 37337 people were in home isolation.

In Mumbai as on February 10, 61,043 people were in home quarantine. As many as 170 slums and chawls were in containment zones and 1,880 buildings had been sealed. It took 533 days for cases to double and weekly growth rate was 0.13%.

However in the second wave, as on April 18, 6,34,220 people were under home quarantine. There were 106 active containment zones of slums and chawls. As many as 1,171 buildings are sealed and in active containment zones. There are 965 active sealed floors across 24 wards.
In terms of wards, on February 10, 2,021 R-C ward recorded 22,345 cases followed by K-West with 20,665 cases, K-East with 18,487 cases R-S with 18,920 cases and P-N with 18,830 positive cases among others. It took 533 days for cases to double. Weekly growth rate was 0.13%.

As against this, as on April 18, the doubling rate drastically fell down to 47 days and weekly growth rate has increased to 1.46%.  Similarly, all wards have seen huge growth in positive cases with highest numbers of cases of 41,632 recorded in K-West ward followed by R-C ward with 37,681 cases, 35,836 cases in K-East ward, 34,697in R-S ward and 34,092 positive cases in P-N ward among others.

Delhi recorded 23,686 new positive cases on April 19. In the last 24 hours 240 Covid deaths took place and positivity rate was 26.12%.

In terms of cumulative figures, positive cases were 877,146 and cumulative positivity rate was 5.38%. A total of 12,361 deaths have been recorded and case fatality rate was 1.41%. Active cases were 76,887 with 15,039 active containment zones in Delhi.

Under its ‘Majha Kutumbh, Majhi Jababdari’ and ‘Me Jababdar’ campaigns, BMC has fined 26 lakh people so far for not wearing masks.     

Dr Khalid Sheikh, Director, Sai Group of Hospitals and Om Sai Arogya Care Pvt Ltd who dedicated his 51-bed hospital in Dharavi for Covid patients in April 2020, said since April 10, 2021 at least in Mumbai, cases which had shot up to 12,000 in numbers are now reduced to around 6,000-7,000, a reduction of 20%-25%. If cases further dip by 25% things will be in control and decrease psychological pressure. Dr Sheikh feels that with cases now becoming stagnant there is a possibility that peak has happened but Mumbai may continue to see large numbers of cases for another month.

Dr Khalid who works in hospitals across municipalities of Mira-Bhayander, Thane, Kalyan-Domivali, Panvel and Bhiwandi and BMC in Mumbai says the peak happened in the month of April the last year also after which cases reduced. He says that though the government has now made Remdisivir available but non-availability of medicines and oxygen has put pressure on everyone.

Meanwhile even as Maharashtra political leaders spoke of announcing a full lockdown in the next couple of hours, the state has tightened restrictions further ordering all groceries, vegetable shops, fruit vendors, diaries, bakeries, confectionaries, all types of food shops including chicken, mutton, poultry, fish and eggs, shops related to agriculture implements and farm produce, pet food shops, shops in relation to materials for impending rainy season for individuals as well as organizations to be opened only between 7am to 11 am.

Home delivery through these shops however has been allowed between 7am to 8pm. Local authorities have been given the power to change timings depending upon the prevailing situation. This order has come into force 8 pm Tuesday and will continue till 7 am, May 1.