There has been a 104% increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Mumbai in the first 22 days of September compared to the same duration last month, according to data from the state health department. Mumbai reported 20,031 cases between August 1 and August 22. More than double, or 40,957 cases, were reported from Sept. 1 to Sept. 22.
The number of deaths decreased marginally. In the first 22 days of August, 990 deaths were reported. They fell to 862 during the same period this month.
Also read: Recoveries exceed 4.5 million mark in India, 83,347 new cases reported in last 24 hours
Officials attributed the increase to increased testing and easing of restrictions and festivals in August. Between 7,000 and 9,000 tests were carried out daily in August and between 10,000 and 15,000 this month.
The head of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Iqbal Singh Chahal, told HT on September 6 that they expect around 2,000 daily cases over the next month and that they aim to increase daily tests to around 12,000-14,000.
Chahal added that they have the capacity to perform around 15,000 tests daily and he plans to optimize them.
So far, more than a million tests have been performed in the city with an overall positivity rate of 18.22%.
Dr Siddarth Paliwal, a private health consultant, said it is a good sign that the number of deaths has decreased despite the increase in the number of cases. “This is due to testing or early detection of potential Covid-19 patients. Furthermore, the availability of drugs to stabilize critically ill patients has also helped reduce the mortality rate. “
As of Tuesday, Mumbai reported 187,000 cases of Covid-19. Up to 152,000 have recovered. The number of victims of the pandemic has risen to 8,555 and the city has around 26,764 active cases.
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