Kalyan Dombivali records 498 new COVID-19 patients

On July 15, as many as 498 new coronavirus patients were clocked in the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation area (KDMC). Nine people succumbed to the disease. The total number of coronavirus patients have now crossed 14,000.

The new patients recorded on Wednesday include 124 people from Kalyan East, 143 from Kalyan, 127 from Dombivali, 74 from Dombivali, 12 from Manda Titwala, 15 from Mohana and 3 from Piswali. However, it is reassuring to note that 627 patients were also recovered on Wednesday. The total number of patients in Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation area has crossed the 14,000-mark. Of these, 6,295 patients are currently undergoing treatment. 7,563 patients have been discharged. So far, 216 people have succumbed to the disease.

The recent addition of cases has officially made Kalyan-Dombivli one of the largest coronavirus hotspots in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Residents and activists from the area have blamed the lack of preparedness by the KDMC to fight the contagious disease. However, it is worth noting that in early May, the KDMC had considered barring essential workers residing under its jurisdiction from returning back from their duties given as they were considered to be one of the biggest sources of the outbreak at the time. However, following significant public outrage after the decision, the KDMC had to rescind its directive.

Earlier, a ten-day lockdown had been imposed on Kalyan-Dombivali from July 2 to July 12. This came after a decision to impose a lockdown on Thane and Navi Mumbai was taken by the authorities. A notification issued by the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) which stated that all business establishments, except health establishments like hospitals, medical stores and dispensaries had to remain closed. Only those selling essential items like milk, vegetables, fruits and groceries were able to home-delivery products between 9 in the morning to 5 pm. Buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis, as well as private buses plying from KDMC areas, were not allowed to ply during this period.