Mumbai: With the number of positive COVID-19 cases reaching 1,297 in Maharashtra on Thursday, Mumbai has emerged as the new epicentre of the dreaded novel coronavirus disease.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has declared 381 areas in Mumbai as containment zones, due to increasing numbers from certain areas.
Earlier in the day, Worli recorded 55 positive cases in one day at one locality, clearly an indication of the exponential rise in the number of cases in Mumbai.
With many new cases coming to the fore, the number in Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) has risen to 152 on Thursday.
According to Maharashtra's health minister Rajesh Tope, though Mumbai has reported maximum cases, the rate of patients getting cured is also high in Mumbai.
“Till date, 117 patients were cured and discharged from hospital,” Tope said.
The BMC has ordered to shut all markets of vegetables, fruits and other shops of essentials excluding medical shops in 381 areas in Mumbai.
Mainly Dharavi and Worli markets have been closed after parts of these areas have been declared containment zones and buffer zones.
Meanwhile, the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) made their hall available for quarantine facility. Viren Shah, president of the club, handed over the hall to the civic administration on Thursday.
The stadium usually holds badminton league matches, kabaddi matches, comedy gigs and weddings.
"We have converted the venue into a special observation zone for individuals who are believed to have come in contact with COVID-19 patients," said Mazhar Nadiadwala, Managing Director of Dome Entertainment which runs the stadium.
The company has set up 300 beds with standardised facilities, in line with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) guidelines, and also offered adjacent rooms to the civic body, he said.
Last week, Praveen Pardeshi, BMC Commissioner, gave powers to ward officers to acquire unused properties, including stadia, gyms, unsold inventory of realty players and also vacant flats as quarantine or treatment facilities.
New Positive Cases on Thursday in Maharashtra
Mumbai-143
Pune-3
Yavatmal-1
Aurangabad-3
Pimpri Chinchwad-2
Thane -1
Navi Mumbai- 2
Kalyan- 4
Mira Bhayendar- 1
Vasai Virar-1
Sindhudurg- 1
Total 162
Progressive 1297
(Inputs from PTI)
