Mumbai Prepared to handle projected spike in COVID-19 cases

The newly appointed Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has projected that Mumbai may have 45,000 to 46,000 coronavirus cases by end of the May month. However, as per the discussions with the BMC officials, the civic body has made efforts and is prepared to fight the same. 

Iqbal Singh Chahal, who is also the disaster management head, said that he was projecting 23,000-odd active cases in Mumbai by May 21-23. At the end of this month, the total may reach 45,000-46,000 cases. 

On Thursday, Mumbai witnessed a huge rise in the COVID-19 cases. Nearly 998 fresh cases were reported in Mumbai while 46 deaths happened in one day in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). 

As of May 14, Maharashtra has reported 27,524 COVID-19 cases while the death toll of the state has reached 1,019. In Mumbai alone, the number of cases has risen to 16,768. 

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has extended the lockdown in red zones like MMR, Pune, Malegaon, Aurangabad, and Solapur until May 31. However, there has been no official announcement regarding lockdown extension yet. 

On Thursday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray chaired a meeting with the cabinet members at Old Mayor bungalow in Dadar. Thackeray discussed extending the lockdown in cities like Mumbai, Pune till May 31. 

Along with this, the Chief Minister also asked the state administration to submit a report on activities that can be allowed outside containment zones in cities that come under the red zone. 

During his interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uddhav Thackeray on Monday suggested that the restrictions more relaxations in the lockdown should be announced rather than lifting it all together while pointing out the studies show that COVID-19 cases are likely to peak in June or July. 

According to the media reports, the BMC Commission also said that he wants the lockdown to be continued in Mumbai even after May 18, or else the efforts made by the civic body will be going to waste. 

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