Chembur man succumbs to Covid, first in Mumbai since Jan 17

MUMBAI: After a gap of 78 days, Mumbai registered a Covid-19 death on Wednesday when a 69-year-old Chembur resident passed away. The state recorded another fatality in Pimpri, taking the toll to 10 in April so far.
The previous Covid-19 victim in the city was a 68-year-old male with kidney failure who died on January 17. Around 1.5 lakh people have died in Mumbai since the pandemic began in March 2020.

According to the BMC's Covid update, the Chembur man died within 24 hours of being hospitalised. BMC executive health officer Dr Mangala Gomare said he had a long history of hypertension and heart disease.
There has been a surge in Covid cases since March, and 30 patients have died in the last 36 days across the state. Protective measures are making a return: the Nashik zilla parishad made masks mandatory for staff as well as visitors a day after the Satara collector did so for all government offices in the district.
The number of daily cases has gone up 10 times in the last month, with Maharashtra registering 569 cases on Wednesday; this is 20% lower than the previous day's tally of 711. In Mumbai, the daily tally has been over 200 (see box) for two days in a row.
The number of active cases in Mumbai has climbed to 1,244. Eighty patients are in hospital with 50% on oxygen support. A senior civic doctor said: "Many of these patients need oxygen support to recover faster."
The BMC has been trying to increase the number of tests, and over 1,800 were conducted on Tuesday (for Wednesday's results). Additional municipal commissioner Dr Sanjeev Kumar told TOI the number of daily tests will go up if needed. During the third wave in January 2022, around 70,000 tests were run in one day.
The BMC has issued an advisory to people to use masks to stay safe. "However, we have not made it mandatory so far," said Kumar.
Nashik ZP CEO Ashima Mittal issued the mask mandate on Wednesday. "Covid-19 cases are increasing in the state and the country. It has become necessary to take preventive measures. Covid infection has long-term effect. Considering that prevention is the best cure, masks will be made compulsory from Thursday," she said.