Covid-19: Mumbai’s test positivity rate touches low of 1.14 per cent

A crowd at Bandra Bandstand on Sunday. Pic/Shadab Khan

The city's test positivity rate (TPR) in the second wave reached a new low of 1.14 per cent on Sunday. As per the BMC report, 362 new Covid-19 cases and 10 deaths were reported across the city. A major difference between the two dates is that the general public was allowed in locals on February 1.

According to the numbers, the city is nearing the lowest point of the second wave. Daily cases remain around 400. In February's first week, daily cases were between 350 and 400. The city is just over 300 cases away from the least number of cases. But the current number of symptomatic and critical patients is almost double what it was in February. The city has 2,680 symptomatic patients, while in February it had 1,529. Similarly, 550 patients are on life support now as opposed to 380 at the end of the first wave.

A Mumbai police personnel disperses visitors at the Gateway of India on Sunday. Pic/Bipin Kokate

Meantime, the civic corporation has increased the strength of hospital beds by 50 per cent from 12,000 to 17,500 and four more jumbo centres are being prepared and can increase beds by another 8,350. This includes around 2,200 beds each at Malad and Kanjurmarg, 1,200 beds at Sion and 450 at racecourse centres. More beds will be added to these later.

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Only 3 CZs remain

Another difference is seen in terms of containment zones (CZ) in slums. With the second wave's cases concentrated on towers and buildings, the BMC did not need to close slum pockets as CZs. Right now, there are only three CZs across the city - one each in Bhandup, Kandivli and Mankhurd. The number of sealed buildings is almost similar.

It also appears that cases in civic wards depend on the population. Wards with a population of over seven lakh in western suburbs had most cases while those in the south are still showing less active cases. The only difference is that cases are slightly concentrated in western suburbs and there are hardly any new cases reported in B or C ward.

"There are many patients who came late and require more days on the ventilator. The positive thing is that most recovered. The death rate is one per cent less than the first wave's and in comparison with the other cities and districts," said Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner.

6,843
No. of new cases recorded across the state