Mumbai ramps up testing as COVID positivity rate jumps to 6%

As COVID positivity rate in Mumbai increased to six per cent, the city’s civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ramped up testing for COVID on a “war footing”. States like Kerala too are seeing a spike in their positivity rate to 7.07 and has recorded 210 active cases on June 1. The COVID positivity rate in Delhi seems to have stagnated between 1.8 per cent and 2.7 per cent over the last two weeks.

Meanwhile, BMC officials told the media that they have asked their officials to scale up testing on a “war footing” in Mumbai and have asked testing labs to be proactive and fully staffed.

The BMC official warned that daily new cases have increased in Mumbai. Mumbai recorded 506 fresh cases yesterday (May 31), which was the highest daily count around February 6 this year, when 536 cases were recorded.

On June 1, Maharashtra had 344 active cases, Kerala 210 active cases, Delhi 117, Karnataka 77 and Tamil Nadu 48.

Also read: India registers 2,685 fresh COVID-19 cases, 33 deaths

According to the BMC, symptomatic cases are expected to go up with the monsoons around the corner in Mumbai.

Moreover, the BMC wants the vaccination drive in the 12-18 years category, and booster doses, to be pushed aggressively. Jumbo field hospitals have been told to be alert and to be adequately staffed. The jumbo Malad hospital can be used on priority if cases increases, the BMC has said.

Officials have been directed to review the status of ward war rooms and ensure they are fully equipped with staff, medical teams, and ambulances.