In recent developments, slum pockets in Mulund have been sealed after 59 new cases of coronavirus cropped up. This spike in COVID-19 cases was reported in Indira Nagar which was sealed by the BMC on May 7, 2020. This has blocked the entry and exit points as residents are not being allowed to traverse elsewhere. Adjoining areas like Vijay Nagar have also started reporting cases after this incident.
The T ward has reported 150 positive cases so far. Out of these cases, 88 are from slum pockets and 59 from Indiranagar, 24 from Ramgarh and 5 from Amarnagar. The BMC had foreseen the outbreak last week when it conducted camps to test the patients who were showing symptoms. It collected swabs of 55 people out which 36 of them were tested positive. This outbreak was traced to a resident who provided essential services in Mhape. The resident had earlier tested positive and had returned home when the ward was notified of the developments.
Prakash Gangadhare, local BJP corporator spoke to the media announcing that although a few cases were reported initially, the spike in cases is shocking. He added that the residents of the slums are currently being supplied with all the essentials required to sustain themselves for the time being. Gangadhare also emphasized the importance of social distancing at this point to protect and safeguard the people who have not been infected yet. Elected representatives often worry about toilets being the main cause of the spread of the virus in slums as a large number of people use community toilets. Further adding to their disadvantage, people living in the slums are also cramped up in claustrophobic conditions where the space to move is almost non-existent. These conditions further give rise to the worries of the officials who are trying to contain the spread of the virus during these dark times in the country.
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