Mumbai: K West goes from 900 Covid-19 cases a day to just 98

Police enforce Covid restrictions as people venture out to jog and cycle in Lokhandwala in May

One of the worst-hit wards in the city during the second wave, K West, which at one point was reporting almost 900 cases a day, recorded just 98 positive cases earlier this week. Even at this time, last year, K West was recording an extremely high number of cases, primarily from slum pockets and chawl areas.

Vishwas Mote, assistant municipal commissioner of the ward, said, "We were recording 900 cases at one point during the second wave. The average number of cases at the time was anywhere between 600-700 per day. However, we have managed to flatten the curve in the ward because we follow clear cut SOPs when it comes to oxygen and bed management, as well as when it comes to tracing high-risk contacts. Both these things put together have had a cumulative effect in bringing the numbers down."

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Mote credited the lockdown as well, but pointed out that the true effect of the lockdown can be gauged only after June 15, which is when municipal reports would be published. "We had a tougher time during the second wave than we did last year," he said.

"The main challenge this time was fulfilling oxygen requirements. But we managed to combat it through coordination between the war room and hospitals and nursing homes located in the ward. We were also in touch with oxygen production companies."

Another difference was that this time, a majority of cases were registered in high-rises. This trend was reversed last year, when K West was recording a high number of cases in slum pockets. "At least 90 per cent of the cases this time have come from high rises," said Mote.

Mote added that the situation was under control and that he doesn't see it escalating anytime soon.