Satellite cities overtake Mumbai’s 1-day tally, biggest spurt in KDMC, Thane

MUMBAI/THANE: On a day when Thane and Kalyan-Dombivli went under total lockdown, both regions recorded the highest single-day spikes in Covid-19 cases on Thursday. While Mumbai registered 1,554 cases on Thursday, six of the nine civic corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region — Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Mira-Bhayander and Vasai-Virar— registered a total of 1,997 cases.

Mumbai seems to have hit a plateau in terms of daily cases, but its satellite cities seem to be heading toward a peak, said a member of the state government task force on Covid. “It could be another fortnight before cases in Greater Mumbai (minus Mumbai city) start to stabilise,” he said.
With a record single-day jump of 560 cases on Thursday, Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) touched 7,485 cases, overtaking NMMC (Navi Mumbai), which has 7,088 cases, including 265 on Thursday. KDMC now has the second highest Covid -19 tally among the six corporations. It also recorded 4 deaths on Thursday.
Thane continues to be on the top of the Covid-19 chart with cases spiralling to 9,530. In a record single-day high, 395 cases were detected on Thursday, while the toll was 11.
Men in khaki out on streets as 10-day lockdown sets in
Mumbai seems to have hit a plateau in terms of daily cases, but its satellite cities seem to be heading toward a peak, said a member of the state government task force on Covid. “It could be another fortnight before cases in Greater Mumbai (minus Mumbai city) start to stabilise,” he said.
With a record single-day jump of 560 cases on Thursday, Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) touched 7,485 cases, overtaking NMMC (Navi Mumbai), which has 7,088 cases, including 265 on Thursday. KDMC now has the second highest Covid -19 tally among the six corporations. It also recorded 4 deaths on Thursday.
Thane continues to be on the top of the Covid-19 chart with cases spiralling to 9,530. In a record single-day high, 395 cases were detected on Thursday, while the toll was 11.
The satellite cites of Thane and Kalyan-Dombivli entered into a total lockdown on Thursday amid highest single-day spike in cases. Mira-Bhayander, where the 10-day lockdown kicked in on Wednesday, also witnessed the highest singleday tally with 171 cases and four deaths on Thursday. Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) reported 115 cases, taking the total to 2,392, while two deaths have pushed the toll to 79.

With rising cases, police were out on the streets keeping away vehicles and people. In Mira-Bhayander, barricades were put up at every nook and corner. In Kalyan-Dombivli, cops cracked down on two-wheeler riders who were out without a valid reason.
The arterial vegetable market at Jambhli in Thane was open till 11am, but with barely any customers. Grocers were given time slots to operate, but most stayed shut as there was no clarity on timings. Pillion riders and cars flouting rules were penalized. BJP corporator Narayan Pawar has sought relaxation for autos and taxis in the first half of the lockdown.
In Ulhasnagar, cops were deployed at junctions to control vehicular movement. While residents stayed indoors in Kalyan-Dombivli, in PCMC areas, people thronged grocery shops and vegetable markets. Prices of essential commodities spiked, and stocks were wiped out in several retail outlets in Panvel.
Navi Mumbai residents said they were cautiously buying essential goods as the region is under lockdown from Friday midnight.
Nerul-based citizen activist, Anarjit Chauhan, questioned why the APMC wholesale market at Vashi has not been closed. “APMC was a hotspot during the initial lockdown phases, it should not be spared in the new lockdown,” said Chauhan.