As we step into the extended lockdown, the new cases every day do not seem to be taking a dip and the big question that everyone seems to be having is if we entered the community transmission phase. The question has been voiced quite often for the financial capital where the COVID-19 has spread to various areas including the crammed Chawls and slums.
However, on Thursday BMC has denied the claim. The civic-body said that Mumbai has been spared "community transmission" of COVID-19.
According to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the state has been on constant 'war against the virus'. There have been many isolation wards and quarantine setups established to make sure that the virus can be contained. Thackeray also mentioned that from a six-month-old infant to an 83-year-old, Mumbaikars have been successful in fighting COVID-19 and returning home after a complete recovery.
The trend for recovery started with the state's first married couple which tested COVID-19 positive on March 9, 2020, after returning home on March 23, 2020. As per the data shared by the state health ministry, as on Thursday, 300 people were completely recovered and have been sent home.
Thackeray added, "Since then [first couple on March 23] the number of Corona patients getting cured has consistently increased to 295 till April 15, including the maximum 166 from Mumbai, 43 in Pune district, 26 in Thane district and 11 in Nagpur, and other parts of the state."
BMC authorities arrived on a conclusion that Mumbai has not reached community transmission and this was inferred after analyzing the data of patients at 97 'fever clinics' which were started by the civic body recently in the city. Many of which are operated in containment zones and congested slums.
A total of 3,585 people checked in these fever clinics, out of which 912 persons were sent for COVID-19 tests, where five recorded positive. They had either been abroad recently or had come in contact with someone with travel history. "The test data reveals an incident of only 0.54 per cent infections, indicating that there is no 'community transmission' of COVID-19 in Mumbai," said the BMC official.
Besides the 'fever clinics', the BMC has also launched a helpline number where doctors offer free advice to persons with complaints of fever, cough, cold or breathing problems. As many as 6,000 people have availed this service and taken the advice of these doctors.
Out of these, 1,200 were advised to be in 'home quarantine', while over 300 cases were referred to go for further testing. Samples of all were collected right from their homes so that they don't venture out during this lockdown and their samples were checked for possible coronavirus infection.
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