MUMBAI: Two days after reporting over 5,000 cases in a day, Maharashtra on Wednesday added 6,603 new Covid-19 cases, taking the total cases to 2,23,724. Also, a day after Mumbai reported just 785 cases, the lowest since May 12, the city reported nearly double the number of cases. With 1,347 fresh cases, Mumbai contributed 20% of cases in the state, taking its total tally to 87,856 cases on Wednesday.
But MMR (except Mumbai) continued to add a large number of cases, with its share being double that of Mumbai. It reported 2,461 cases or 40% of cases from the state.
The state recorded 198 deaths, a dip from the last two days when it reported over 200 deaths. The state’s total toll is now 9,448. Mumbai reported 62 deaths on Wednesday, taking the total deaths in the city to 5,064. Of the 62 dead, 59 had comorbidities.
Kalyan-Dombivli crossed 10,000 cases with 471 fresh cases, taking the case count to 10,351. Seven deaths were recorded there, taking the toll to 158. Apart from this, 509 people were discharged from hospitals in the region, taking the number of recoveries to 4,946 while 5,247 active patients are being treated.
Health minister Rajesh Tope said the state has done away with the need for a prescription for a test. He said ICMR has asked states to increase testing so positivity rate can be brought down to 10%. A civic official said home swab collection is allowed if a Covid suspect needs it, while high-risk contacts and those asymptomatic with comorbidities can be tested between Day 5 and 10 (without self-declaration). “In the healthcare setting, rapid antigen test can be done in highrisk groups seeking hospitalization,” said the official. Mumbai has carried out over 3.68 lakh cases. “Change in testing numbers will be visible in a day or two,” said AMC Suresh Kakani.
ICMR has given a districtwise target of testing at least 140 people per million each day. “We are way higher in the testing than the target set by ICMR. We have allowed for testing to be done without requiring prescription as we want aggressive tests to ensure cases are reported earlier and fatality rate too is brought down,” Tope said. Tope also said the state has asked all districts to start antigen and antibody tests.
Tope also agreed there is a shortage of antiviral drugs Remdesivir and Favipiravir at the moment, but said the state is following up with the manufacturers who have said they will be able to stream the supply of these drugs to the government and even in the market in the next one week. “We are consistently following up with the companies on this,” Tope said.
But MMR (except Mumbai) continued to add a large number of cases, with its share being double that of Mumbai. It reported 2,461 cases or 40% of cases from the state.
The state recorded 198 deaths, a dip from the last two days when it reported over 200 deaths. The state’s total toll is now 9,448. Mumbai reported 62 deaths on Wednesday, taking the total deaths in the city to 5,064. Of the 62 dead, 59 had comorbidities.
Kalyan-Dombivli crossed 10,000 cases with 471 fresh cases, taking the case count to 10,351. Seven deaths were recorded there, taking the toll to 158. Apart from this, 509 people were discharged from hospitals in the region, taking the number of recoveries to 4,946 while 5,247 active patients are being treated.
Health minister Rajesh Tope said the state has done away with the need for a prescription for a test. He said ICMR has asked states to increase testing so positivity rate can be brought down to 10%. A civic official said home swab collection is allowed if a Covid suspect needs it, while high-risk contacts and those asymptomatic with comorbidities can be tested between Day 5 and 10 (without self-declaration). “In the healthcare setting, rapid antigen test can be done in highrisk groups seeking hospitalization,” said the official. Mumbai has carried out over 3.68 lakh cases. “Change in testing numbers will be visible in a day or two,” said AMC Suresh Kakani.
ICMR has given a districtwise target of testing at least 140 people per million each day. “We are way higher in the testing than the target set by ICMR. We have allowed for testing to be done without requiring prescription as we want aggressive tests to ensure cases are reported earlier and fatality rate too is brought down,” Tope said. Tope also said the state has asked all districts to start antigen and antibody tests.
Tope also agreed there is a shortage of antiviral drugs Remdesivir and Favipiravir at the moment, but said the state is following up with the manufacturers who have said they will be able to stream the supply of these drugs to the government and even in the market in the next one week. “We are consistently following up with the companies on this,” Tope said.
Coronavirus outbreak
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Get the app