Mumbai reports 1,118 cases, zero COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours

While the city has seen a drop in the daily Covid case count, the test positivity rate still remains at 12 per cent for the second consecutive day, with 1,118 people testing positive on Monday, increasing the total Covid count to 10,81,865 cases so far. Meanwhile, zero Covid-related deaths were reported from the city in the last 24 hours, with the death toll so far at 19,573.

However, the doubling days dropped below the 500-mark on Monday, while the weekly growth rate plunged to 0.144 per cent. Moreover, the active cases have also increased to 11,331 until June 13.

Maharashtra too witnessed a huge drop in daily cases on Monday, with 1,885 new infections and one Covid-related fatality being recorded in the last 24 hours, pushing the state's tally to 79,12,462, with 1,47,871 deaths so far.

Dr Lancelot Pinto, consultant pulmonologist and epidemiologist, P D Hinduja Hospital, said waning immunity post prior infections and vaccination, increased social interactions / overcrowding, increasing travel and reduced precautions (masking, sanitising) have all possibly contributed to the surge that we are presently experiencing. “Fortunately it does appear that despite increasing numbers, the proportion of those infected who have severe disease is low, and we are likely to experience a surge similar to what we witnessed in January,” he said.

Dr Rahul Pandit, member of the National Covid Task Force said that there is very less hospitalisation due to which there is no need for panic. A majority of the cases are seen as less severe, requiring less hospitalisation, but with high transmission levels. “No need to get panicked about it as it's causing mostly upset respiratory tract infections with very rare severe disease,” he said.