COVID-19: Imposing night curfew in Mumbai is necessary right now, says Mayor Kishori Pednekar

A health worker collects a nasal swab sample from a man to test for coronavirus at a residential area in Mumbai. Pic/AFP

Amid a surge in cases, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar said that imposing a night curfew is necessary right now.

"I think imposing a night curfew is necessary right now. We are also considering shifting the crowded markets to new sites," Pednekar told ANI on Thursday.

"All Mumbaikars need to work together to prevent the imposition of a lockdown in the city," she added.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai rose by 2,377 on Wednesday, the highest single day addition since October last year, to touch 3,49,958.

The figure was 2,823 on October 8, BMC data showed.

The toll reached 11,547 after eight deaths were recorded during the day, this figure too being the highest in the metropolis since February 1, the official pointed out.

The day also saw 876 people getting discharged, taking the recovery count to 3,20,754, he said.

The average growth rate of cases increased from 0.17 per cent on February 18 to 0.48 per cent now, while the case doubling time quickened from 417 days to 145 now, civic data revealed.

With 21,463 samples being examined in the last 24 hours, the overall number of tests in Mumbai went up to 36,14,528.

The city has 34 containment zones and 267 sealed buildings.