Mumbai: More BMC wards see Covid cases, but in single digits

Two weeks ago, it seemed like Mumbai was heading towards the end of Covid-19 with nine wards not reporting a single case in a week. However, amid the global surge in Covid cases, seven of these nine wards have reported a total of 18 cases in the past seven days. Only five wards did not report any cases in the past week. BMC officials said there was no way to predict if and when cases may spike in the city, but added that they are ready to handle patients in case of a new wave.

Nine wards - L (Kurla), R South (Kandivli), E (Byculla), A (Colaba), M East (Chembur East), R Central (Borivli), C (Marine Lines), M West (Chembur West) and P South (Goregaon) - had not reported a single case from December 4 to 10, mid-day had highlighted on December 12. But over the past week, A ward has reported six, R South four, L three, R Central reported two cases while P South, E and C wards have reported one Covid case each.

People arrive at the international airport in Mumbai on Wednesday, amid the global surge in Covid cases. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

A senior BMC health official said, "It is very difficult to predict how the virus will behave in the coming days. As there is a global surge in Covid cases now, it is likely that we, too, will see the trend. However, it is hard to say if it will be like the severe second wave or the relatively mild third wave."

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"There are a few areas that reported new cases but the number is not worrisome. However, we should be responsible and follow Covid-appropriate behaviour even though there has not been a spike in cases in the city yet," the civic official added. The city currently has only five wards which did not report a single case in the December 21-27 week. These wards are F North (Matunga), B (Sandhurst Road), R North (Dahisar), M East (Chembur East) and M West (Chembur West). As on Tuesday, there were 48 active Covid cases in the city and only 10 of the 4,441 Covid beds were occupied.

10
No of Covid beds occupied as on Tuesday