Pune: Pune crossed 20,000 mark with over 900 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, officials claim due to increased testing

The Pune district crossed 20,000 mark on Saturday. Pune Metropolitan Region (PMR) added 996 fresh coronavirus cases, taking its total tally to 20,023. The high cases reported is due to increased testing in the city.

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) area reported 814 cases out of 996, it records the highest cases compared to the rest of the areas. Meanwhile, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) region recorded 128 cases and 54 cases were reported from Pune Cantonment areas.

According to PMC's health department, the cases in the last couple of days have gone up due to increased testing capacity. Collection of swab samples are in the 3,000 to 3,500 range per day. The officials reported, in the coming days, swab sample collection will increase. To implement the plan of action, PMC has planned to deploy mobile vans and open swab collection centres at containment zones.

On Saturday, PMR recorded about 19 deaths in the city due to COVID-19. And Pune district's overall death toll stands at 693. Most of the deaths recorded on Saturday were of senior citizens from different areas. A 77-year old woman from Sinhagad Road, a 74-year old man from Pashan, 77-year old man from Bhavani Peth, an 85-year old man from Kondhwa, and the 59-year old woman from Kondhwa was among the deceased reported on Sat.

Talking about recoveries, 567 coronavirus patients were discharged in the last 24 hours.

The worst-affected state, Maharashtra has recorded 5,318 fresh COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours, taking the state's total to 1,59,133. After reporting 167 fatalities, the total death count has increased to 7,273.