774 deaths in a week, Maharashtra toll tops 3,000; June fatality rate 4.2%, 4% in Mumbai

MUMBAI: The Covid-19 death toll in the state crossed 3,000 on Sunday, exactly three months after the pandemic struck. Of this, 774 happened in June first week — including 91 on Sunday— pushing the mortality rate for June to 4.22% — much above the national average of 2.8%.
Mumbai, which recorded its highest deaths in a single day on Sunday (61), witnessed its toll reaching 1,638. In the last one week, the city’s fatality rate has nearly touched 4% after hovering under 3.4% in May.
The state recorded 3,007 cases, its second highest daily count; the total is 85,975. With 1,420 new cases, Mumbai’s tally is at 48,774— 25,940 currently under treatment.
While it took the state a fortnight to go from 1,000 to 2,000 deaths, the jump from 2,000 to 3,000 came in a span of nine days. After 100-plus deaths for each of the last five consecutive days, the state recorded 91 deaths on Sunday, taking cumulative death toll to 3,060. It also recorded 3,007 new cases of Covid-19, the second highest in a day since 3,041 on May 25, taking the total to 85,975 cases. Active cases in the state though are 43,591, with 39,314 having been discharged.
As the city geared up to exit the lockdown with a ‘Mission Begin Again’ programme which included plying of BEST buses from Monday, Mumbai recorded its highest death toll -- 61 -- on Sunday, which took the city’s total count to 1,638. With 1,420 fresh coronavirus cases, Mumbai now has 48,774 in all, of which 25,940 are currently under treatment.
Civic authorities said they were bracing for more infections to come to light as shops and offices resume work with limited staff. Dr Anupkumar Yadav, commissioner, National Health Mission, said the state has increased its quarantine bed capacity from 50,000 to 3 lakh in the last three months.
“The next eight to ten days are crucial for us as more establishments open up. We are expecting to see a rise in cases and we are adequately prepared,” said Suresh Kakani, BMC’s additional municipal commissioner. “Covid combined with monsoon could pose a challenge. We have kept most of our dispensaries available for non-Covid services. We are also pushing more and more private set-ups to start functioning,” he added.
Mayor Kishori Pednekar issued an appeal to citizens to avoid crowds and take necessary measures like keeping a sanitizer and mask while leaving home on Monday.
The civic body also asked all symptomatic patients with Covid like symptoms such as fever, cough, breathlessness, sore throat, etc to visit nearby MCGM dispensaries, OPDs of hospitals, dedicated covid health centres or a physician. “Doctors shouldn't waste time treating for other ailments if there are clear signs of sore throat or breathlessness,” said another civic official.
Meanwhile, the state health department said of the total 91 deaths recorded on Sunday, 67 (73.6%) had high-risk co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, etc. Of the casualties, 46 were over 60 years in age, 41 were from the age group of 40-59 and 4 were younger than 40. While 64 of the 91 were men, 27 were women.
The health department claimed that 31 of the total 91 deaths occurred in the last two days while the rest happened between April 13 and June 4. Of the 60 deaths in these 53 days, 44 were in Mumbai, 5 in Ulhaasnagar, 4 each in Mira-Bhayander and Solapur and one each in Nashik, Palghar, and one was a West Bengal resident. “These deaths were added only after they were scrutinised by the death review committee. Overall, the death rate is around 3.55%,” said Dr Pradeep Awate, state surveillance officer.
Public health minister Rajesh Tope said the state has so far tested 5.51 lakh samples of which 85,975 (16%) tested positive. The recovery rate has now improved to 45.72%.