MUMBAI: The civic body has said that the city's Covid-19 fatality rate stands at around 4%, which is less than the state average (5%). It was, however, more than the national average of 3%. Mumbai had reported 18 deaths until Friday, the day BMC gave out the information.
Speaking to TOI, BMC chief Praveen Pardeshi said testing was the key to win the battle against coronavirus. He said that the city has tested over 10,000 samples, which is even ahead of progressive states like Kerala. "Mumbai has carried out 658 tests per million and the positivity rate is around 3%," he said. In comparison, Maharashtra has carried out 51 tests per million, while India had done 36 tests per million. "It is through testing that we are able to detect and quarantine people early before they have full-blown symptoms and infect several others," Pardeshi said.
Will quarantine 5,000 high-risk contacts: BMC
Comparing to other countries, Pardeshi said the city’s positivity rate was much lower than nations like the US that have a positive rate of 17% or Italy, which has 21%.
He emphasised that the city’s weapon would be quarantining all the high-risk contacts. “We intend to quarantine 5,000 people in BMC facilities, unlike our previous strategy of home-quarantining them,” he said. When asked about the state being reportedly unhappy with the contract tracing numbers, Pardeshi denied it, saying that they have found more than 4 lakh contacts of Covid-19 positive patients.
Pardeshi stated that many hospitals, including small nursing homes that have been closed down due to various reasons, may be taken over by the BMC and converted into isolation facilities. He added that the BMC wouldn’t shy away from using force to keep people behind doors in their containment areas. He said there are various big challenges in the city, including congested population, close quarters and breach of supply line.
Speaking to TOI, BMC chief Praveen Pardeshi said testing was the key to win the battle against coronavirus. He said that the city has tested over 10,000 samples, which is even ahead of progressive states like Kerala. "Mumbai has carried out 658 tests per million and the positivity rate is around 3%," he said. In comparison, Maharashtra has carried out 51 tests per million, while India had done 36 tests per million. "It is through testing that we are able to detect and quarantine people early before they have full-blown symptoms and infect several others," Pardeshi said.
Will quarantine 5,000 high-risk contacts: BMC
Comparing to other countries, Pardeshi said the city’s positivity rate was much lower than nations like the US that have a positive rate of 17% or Italy, which has 21%.
He emphasised that the city’s weapon would be quarantining all the high-risk contacts. “We intend to quarantine 5,000 people in BMC facilities, unlike our previous strategy of home-quarantining them,” he said. When asked about the state being reportedly unhappy with the contract tracing numbers, Pardeshi denied it, saying that they have found more than 4 lakh contacts of Covid-19 positive patients.
Pardeshi stated that many hospitals, including small nursing homes that have been closed down due to various reasons, may be taken over by the BMC and converted into isolation facilities. He added that the BMC wouldn’t shy away from using force to keep people behind doors in their containment areas. He said there are various big challenges in the city, including congested population, close quarters and breach of supply line.
Coronavirus outbreak
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
City
Covid-19: Elderly man quarantined in boat in West Bengal's Malda 
COVID-19: 108 patients in national capital are Jamaat attendees, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal 
9000 Tablighi Jamat workers and their contacts have been identified: Home Ministry 
Govt employee commits suicide over fear of Covid-19 in UP's Saharanpur
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Get the app