Navi Mumbai civic body raids and tests morning walkers, two found COVID-19 positive on Thursday

NMMC commissioner Abhijit Bangar inspected micro containment zones in Nerul and Belapur on Thursday. Pic/Twitter

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has registered two FIRs against 57 morning walkers in two days. On Thursday, during an exercise to enforce COVID protocol, when morning walkers near Jewel of Navi Mumbai were tested, two were found COVID positive. Both were sent to the corporation's COVID care centre.

Both new COVID cases and active cases in the NMMC's jurisdiction are on the decline. The city reached its peak amid the second COVID wave on April 4 with 1,441 cases reported in a day. Since then, daily cases have reduced, with 645 of them being reported on April 28. The active cases, which reached 11,000 in mid-April, have come down to 7,200.

The NMMC will continue the drive to enforce COVID protocols till the restrictions last. Representation pic/NMMC

The NMMC has not let its guard down and has urged citizens not to venture outside, even if there are fewer cases. "We have closed all parks, jogging tracks to avoid mass gatherings. But we have observed that many citizens are now venturing out for walks, be it morning or evening. This might give rise to infection in the city. To prevent it, we have formed special teams to keep an eye on such gatherings," said an NMMC officer.

"On directions of the NMMC commissioner, we started this drive from April 28 and on Day 1, we registered an FIR against 25 people across the city," the officer added.
On April 29 morning, an NMMC squad raided Nerul lake, near Palm Beach road, popularly known as ‘Jewel of Navi Mumbai'. Antigen tests were conducted on 32 morning walkers and two were found COVID positive. An FIR was registered against the 32 people. "I have been urging citizens that they shouldn't lower their guard even if cases have lowered in the city. There is a false sense of confidence among many and they are venturing out for walks. Many of the walkers have dedicated groups where they meet, chat and walk together. We have found families coming out after dinner for a short stroll. This needs to be stopped till there are restrictions in place," said Abhijit Bangar, NMMC commissioner. "These raids will continue till there is a lockdown, there is no other way to stop such violation," he added.

1,441
Peak no. of cases reported in Navi Mumbai on April 4