Mumbai Covid positivity rate jumps to 6%, Testing to be increased

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said the Covid-19 test positivity rate in the city has increased to 6%. Testing for the infection will be increased to control the spread.

The BMC asked for jumbo field hospitals to be adequately staffed and on alert. Private hospitals are not exempted from the preparations. All healthcare providers were asked to review the status of ward war rooms to ensure they are fully equipped with medical teams and ambulances.

If the spike in Covid-19 cases leads to increased hospitalisation, the jumbo hospital in Malad is to be used first.

Laboratories are also told to be proactive and fully staffed. The civic body is expecting a rapid rise in symptomatic cases when the monsoon starts. Officials are also instructed to push the vaccination drive in the age group 12-18 and booster doses.

Compared to the cases reported in April, Mumbai saw over a 100% increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in May. A 231% increase in hospitalisation was also recorded in May compared to April. Yesterday, 506 new cases were recorded. This is the highest daily count since February 6 when 536 new cases were reported in a day.

Mumbai city guardian minister Aslam Shaikh told Free Press Journal if Covid-19 cases continue to rise and exceed thousand in the state, another lockdown will have to be imposed. He added that restrictions will have to be put in place given the pace at which the number of patients is growing.

Mumbai has recorded 19,200 admissions during the Omicron wave. Dr Santosh Shetty, executive director of Kokilaben Hospital, told Times of India that admissions are rising after a long gap but patients are not coming with direct Covid pneumonia like last time.