The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday said that a staggering 47 new cases have tested positive for Covid-19 in the Greater Mumbai area.
The civic authority added that the sudden rise in coronavirus cases is due to cumulative figures of tests conducted by private labs being compiled after four days.
Out of the 47 new Covid-19 cases, 18 cases are those whose tests were done at private labs between March 24 and March 28. These patients are already undergoing treatment. This takes the toll of active coronavirus cases in Mumbai to 147. So far, eight patients have died due to coronavirus in Mumbai and 15 patients have been discharged.
On the increase of positive cases, the BMC said, “To improve testing facilities, certain private labs have been approved and 18 patients were diagnosed between date March 24 and March 28 across various private labs. All these patients are being followed up on by the BMC health department. As these 18 cases are included in the list today there appears to be a rise in cases, but it is mainly due to vigorous contact tracing by the health teams and enhanced testing in public and private labs. We are ensuring proper preventive steps to control the spread of disease.”
The BMC also confirmed that an 80-year-old male Covid-19 patient passed away at the Fortis Hospital, Mulund on Saturday. He had co-morbid conditions including acute respiratory distress, hypertension and ischemic heart disease. He was admitted to the private hospital on March 27 and died a day later. The deceased tested positive for Covid-19 on March 29, a day after his demise.
So far the civic authority has screened 1 lakh homes and around 4 lakh people in an attempt to contain the spread of coronavirus.
“As a containment measure, areas surrounding the positive cases including 1 lakh houses and 3,87,000 people are being surveyed to trace the contacts of positive cases. The teams are also ensuring the home quarantine measures are being followed. In addition, digital mapping of the containment zone is being undertaken and it will be displayed on BMC’s website for citizen information and precaution,” read a statement.
