Covid-19: Mumbai passes the test, but BMC says no marks

Though city’s positivity and bed figures make it eligible for further relaxations, BMC is worried about irresponsible public behaviour and has put off going to Level 2

Mumbai has become eligible for the Level 2 tag with a falling test positivity rate and a fair availability of oxygen beds, but the BMC says it will stick to Level 3 for now.  While moving to the new level would mean more relaxations, including regular timing for non-essential services, the civic body fears citizens might turn complacent and end up spreading Covid-19. Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani said they want to wait for at least a week before taking a final call.

Traders and hoteliers have now demanded Level 2 norms for the city. Pic/Ashish Raje

Late on Friday, the BMC issued a circular confirming that it will continue with Level 3 restrictions considering the “population density, high alert given by the IMD for the coming few days and owing to the heavy population that keeps coming in and going out through local trains in the city”.

The state has allowed local authorities to take a call on changing their lockdown levels as per its order of June 4. Mumbai at present is in Level 3. In case a city upgrades to the next level, it is required to keep the state informed, as per the new directive.

The criteria for Level 2 is the case positivity rate of 5 per cent and oxygen bed occupancy at 25 to 40 per cent. Currently, the city’s weekly test positivity ratio is 4.4 per cent and oxygen bed occupancy is about 27 per cent. 

This means malls, multiplexes and theatres, restaurants and salons can operate with regular timings with 50 per cent occupancy. While women can use local trains under Level 2, private and government offices can also run with 100 per cent capacity.

‘Don’t want to keep switching’

A top civic official, not willing to be named, said, “We do not want to keep switching from Level 2 to Level 3 [if cases rise] and want the relaxations to be regular and not just for some time and then again go back to stricter restrictions. It is better for us to wait and watch and implement the Level 2 relaxations depending on the situation.”

The official said an additional week will also mean vaccination for more citizens. Currently, an average 50,000 people are being administered vaccines through government and private drives. In a week’s time, about 3 lakh citizens would be added to the inoculated lot. 

Another BMC official said they are tracking test positivity rate closely. “If in the coming week our TPR touches 5 and above, we will again have to come down to Level 3. It won’t be good for any business. So we are following the wait-and-watch approach,” he said. For now, Kakani said, the time restriction of 4 pm will continue. 

BMC chief Iqbal Singh Chahal did not respond to calls and messages. 

Meanwhile, traders and hoteliers have have urged the BMC to move to Level 2. Maharashtra Nationalist Congress Hotel Employees Union president Vishwanath Shetty (Kalathur), said, “I have written to the CM to allow Mumbai hotels to run as per their regular timing.”

4.4%
City’s weekly TPR

5%
TPR required for Level 2

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