Maharashtra Covid lockdown news live: 8-day strict lockdown in Solapur district from 8pm, May 8
Nearly a month after lockdown-like restrictions were imposed in the state, 10 districts — three of them from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) — have reported a weekly case growth rate lower than the state's average, giving hope that the second wave could be ebbing in some of the most densely populated urban belts. According to the latest projections, 11 districts are likely to report a drop in active cases by May 16 but at least nine will register a rise. The state, overall, will experience a 13% rise, from 6.9 lakh to 7.2 lakh. Projections show as many as 22 districts could face a shortfall of isolation beds if the surge continues. Pune, Satara and Nashik could face the brunt. Pune district could face a shortage of up to 30,000 isolation beds. Stay with TOI for all the latest updates:
Eight-day strict lockdown announced for Solapur district
An eight-day strict lockdown has been announced for Solapur district starting from 8pm on Saturday. All essential shops to remain shut, only home delivery of essentials is allowed. Solapur is one of the 30 districts in the country which is reporting a consistent rise in Covid cases for the last two weeks.
Around 80% patients in Nagpur district are in home isolation
It is probably for the first time the government has given projection of decline in cases and surplus beds in the district. In its latest projection sent to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and district administration a day ago, the government said the district will have 1,353 surplus beds with oxygen supply, 1,496 in ICU and 359 beds with ventilators for a total of 3,208 surplus beds in hospitals as per projections for May 16. The government has also projected deficit of 6,871 beds in Covid Care Centres (CCC) whereas the scenario in the district is totally different. Less than 1% of total active positive patients are in CCCs since the beginning of second-wave, and many CCCs are yet to be brought into use citing patients preferring home isolation. Around 80% patients are in home isolation. READ FULL STORY HERE
Low vaccine reserves likely to impact 45-plus drive in district
A rapid depletion of Covishield reserves in the district is now likely to impact the vaccination drive for the 45-plus age group. Officials said this category is dependent on Covishield supply from the Centre to the state, which then distributes it to districts. On Tuesday night, Pune district got around 73,800 doses of the vaccine. Thursday’s drive used up 65,000 doses. Officials said Pune district received around 25,000 Covishield doses on Thursday evening from the Centre, which will be used for the 45+ category. But preference will be given to those who are due for their second dose. READ FULL STORY
In Palghar, the refusal of patients to admit that they have Covid and lack of sufficient trained doctors has made the situation worse, said officials.
Asenior official from the government has attributed the turnaround to the shutting of Mumbai’s local trains for the general public. “The local train connects the entire region and has a huge role in aiding the transmission. Even if cases in Mumbai have dropped, we cannot ease restrictions till the region reports a similar decline,” the official said.
MMR, spread over four districts and nine corporations, has contributed to roughly 30% of total cases and deaths in the state. Its residential clusters and large commuting population made it a hotspot for several months during the first wave. MMR has had14.2 lakh cases and over 24,000 fatalities out of the 49.42lakh cases and 73,515 deaths recorded by the state since the start of the pandemic.
Active cases in Mumbai on May16 are projected to be 29,638, nearly half the current active cases of over 55,000. Active cases in Thane are projected to drop to 21,706 from 44,150. Raigad too is likely to have vacant hospital beds if the decline in growth rate continues.
Palghar is also among 25 districts with a higher growth rate than the state. The health department has projected that by May 13, Palghar could have nearly 24,000 active cases against the current load of 18,000, and face a shortage of oxygen and ICU beds.
The health department has projected that by May 13, Mumbai and Thane are likely to see a 47-50% dip in active cases.
Data from the public health department reveals Mumbai and Thane reported a weekly growth rate less than 1% while Raigad reported a rate of 1.1%, both lower than the state's average of 1.3%. Palghar district, which includes parts of Vasai, Virar, Boisar and Dahanu, was an exception with cases rising at 1.53% and its weekly positivity rate hovering over 40%, highest in the state.
Ratnagiri, though relatively less populated, has had the highest growth rate among all districts at 3.18% and could face a shortage of nearly 5,000 isolation beds,1,421 oxygen beds, 303 ICU beds and 46 ventilators. Dr Pradeep Awate, state’s surveillance officer, said a dip was visible in certain districts, but it was too early to say cases have stabilised.
Projections show as many as 22 districts could face a shortfall of isolation beds if the surge continues. Pune, Satara and Nashik could face the brunt. Pune district could face a shortage of up to 30,000 isolation beds.
According to the latest projections, 11 districts are likely to report a drop in active cases by May 16 but at least nine will register a rise. The state, overall, will experience a 13% rise, from 6.9 lakh to 7.2 lakh.
Nearly a month after lockdown-like restrictions were imposed in the state, 10 districts — three of them from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) — have reported a weekly case growth rate lower than the state's average, giving hope that the second wave could be ebbing in some of the most densely populated urban belts.