Active Covid-19 cases crosses 1,000 mark after five months

Mumbai: Active Covid-19 cases in Mumbai crossed the 1,000-mark for the first time after October 2022. As per the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) report, the city reported 189 new Covid-19 cases taking the active cases number to 1,021.

The state too saw a jump in single day new cases as 669 new cases were reported across Maharashtra with no deaths. On Friday, the state had reported 425 new cases. The state has 3,324 active cases. The state has been seeing a steady rise in Covid-19 cases since March first week.

“Rise in active cases means there is a rise in Covid-19 cases. However, most of them are asymptomatic and recovering at home. If a patient tests positive and is in home isolation, s/he is considered discharged after seven days,” said Dr Mangala Gomare, executive health officer, BMC.

Out of the 1,021 active cases, 82 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised. “Most patients are hospitalised in BMC’s Sevenhill hospital (SHH)- Covid-19 facility,” said Dr Gomare. According to SHH doctors, these admitted patients are incidentally tested for Covid-19 and were admitted in other hospitals primarily for other treatment.

The state health official attributed XBB.1.16-omicron subvariant for the present spurt in Covid-19 cases in the state.

BMC said the number of Covid-19, H1N1, H3N2 cases have been rising since Mar-2023 and advised Mumbaikars to follow covid appropriate behaviour. It has also issued directions to all heads of public and private hospitals and private practitioners that since Covid and influenza have almost similar symptoms that if the fever doesn’t subside in 48 hours, then oseltamivir is advised as per the state government guidelines and RT-PCR testing can be done.

The state health department on Wednesday reviewed the Covid-19 situation and their preparedness in the state. It has urged citizens not to panic but follow Covid-19 appropriate behaviour like following hand hygiene, cough hygiene, wearing masks in crowded places and poorly ventilated places etc.

It also said that masks should be worn in health institutions/hospitals and people with symptoms should self-isolate till they completely recover and consult a doctor.