No immediate lockdown in Mumbai amid rise in COVID-19 cases: Civic officials
Despite the rise in COVID-19cases, the situation in Mumbai is under control and there isno immediate need to impose a lockdown in the city, seniorcivic officials said on Tuesday.
Mumbai on Monday recorded 1,008 fresh infections thatraised its tally to 3,34,572.
When asked about the possibility of imposing alockdown, municipal commissioner Iqbal Chahal said there wasno immediate need to do so.
According to civic officials, the surge in cases is aresult of an increase in daily testing.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) hasramped up testing significantly from 11,000 to 15,000 testsconducted in January to over 20,000 at present.
As many as 23,000 COVID-19 tests were conducted by thecivic body on Monday.
The city has recorded a positivity rate of six percent, which is quite less compared to other cities inMaharashtra, a civic official said.
Considering this, there is no immediate need to imposea lockdown in the metropolis, the official said.
Officials have, however, warned that if citizens donot follow the COVID-19 protocol, the civic body may be forcedto take stringent steps.
Speaking to media persons, a senior BMC official saidnearly 60 per cent beds are available for COVID-19 patients atcity hospitals.
The civic body has undertaken the third sero survey inMumbai and 12,000 samples have been collected under this, theofficial said, adding that a report is expected in two weeks.
The COVID-19 immunisation drive is underway at 67centres, including 24 civic hospitals, four state-runhospitals and 38 private hospitals, the official said.
The civic body is planning to increase the number ofthe vaccination centres to 85, he said.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Guardian Minister Aslam Shaikh onTuesday said if COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the city,the possibility of a night curfew or partial lockdown cannotbe ruled out.
Shaikh said local authorities have been empowered totake a decision on lockdown as and when necessary.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Federal staff and is auto-published from a syndicated feed.)
