The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has now urged the Maharashtra task force members to ask for genome sequencing reports of passengers flying in from Europe, the USA and Russia. Currently, there has been a surge in COVID-19 cases in foreign countries.
This move comes as it is likely that Mumbai can witness a surge in coronavirus cases as festivities are approaching. In a bid to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, they are asking for the genome sequencing reports, officials stated.
Suresh Kakani, the additional municipal commissioner of BMC, said they are taking all the necessary measures to prevent the spread in Mumbai. Not only this, but they have also urged the state task force to provide them with data on dominant variants in European countries.
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The municipal corporation is also collecting samples from passengers coming to the city from coronavirus-affected countries. As per BMC's fourth genome-sequencing report, the delta variant is still dominant among COVID-19 cases in Mumbai.
Moreover, to prevent the spread during the festivities, the BMC has set up two squads in each of its 24 wards to make sure every citizen exhibits COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.
Meanwhile, state health minister Rajesh Tope has said the third wave of coronavirus is expected to hit Maharashtra in December; however, it will be mild.