In Mumbai, festive season bringing rising Covid-19 cases with it

A crowded market in Dadar amidst the pandemic, on August 29. Pic/Ashish Raje

With the city celebrating festivals amid the threat of third Covid-19 wave, cases have been on the rise across the city, but central Mumbai - Wadala, Sion, Parel, Dadar and Byculla - has seen higher growth in new infections in the past seven days. As per the civic body's figures, between August 19 and 25, F South ward (Parel, Lalbaug) reported 65 new cases, which rose significantly to 115 between August 26 and September 1. Figures rose in other areas as well.

The number of new Covid-19 cases in Byculla stood at 109 between August 26 and September 1, significantly up from 82 between August 19 and 25. In F North ward (Wadala and Sion), cases rose to 128 in the week ending September 1 from 91 between August 19 and 25. In the western suburbs, the H West ward (Bandra to Santacruz) has also registered a rise in new cases over the past seven days.

BMC sealed Prabhu Kunj on Peddar Road after 11 cases were reported, on August 28. Pic/Ashish Raje

The number of sealed buildings has also almost doubled within a week. On August 25, the city had 24 sealed buildings and the figure jumped to 47 on September 1. As on September 1, 11 buildings were sealed in H West, nine in K West wards, six each in D and M East wards, and four buildings each in G North, F South and E wards. Even the number of sealed floors rose to 1,285 from 1,056 in a week, with the highest growth seen in G North ward (Dadar and Mahim).

Rise in western suburbs

R Central ward (Borivli) and K West ward (Andheri, Vile Parle) are still on the top of the chart with areas reporting maximum number of cases. In the past seven days, K West and R Central wards reported 176 and 149 cases, respectively. Similarly, in H West (Bandra) ward, many buildings reported cases in clusters and 11 of them were sealed within the past three days. Vinayak Vispute, assistant commissioner of H West ward, said, "Cases are reported in clusters, as people are confusing Covid-19 with common flu and interacting with the patients. Family members, relatives and neighbours are found Coronavirus-positive afterwards."

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Vispute added that mass testing has already started in sealed buildings. Residents in high-rises are conscious about their health, but they should help their domestic workers and drivers get tested, so that the infection does not spread further.

F North ward reported 128 cases last week. "The cases in Wadala and Sion are not clustered, but are mainly in high rises. Only about 2-3 per cent cases are from slums. There isn't any particular history of travelling among the patients. Moreover, the patients include an equal number of people who regularly go for work and those who stay at home," said Gajanan Bellale, assistant commissioner of F North ward. "In G North ward, Dharavi has been reporting hardly one to three cases daily, while Mahim and Dadar are registering most infections," said an official from G North ward.