On Thursday, March 11, Mumbai records one year of detecting the first reported COVID-19 case. Exactly a year back, two people in Mumbai tested positive for the coronavirus.
The first confirmed case of coronavirus in Maharashtra was reported on March 9, 2020, in Pune. The couple who reportedly tested positive in Mumbai were linked to the Pune couple who had tested positive earlier.
Moreover, on March 16, the total tally of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra reached 37 with three confirmed case in Mumbai and one in Navi Mumbai. The Mumbai cases included a three-year-old child and her mother, who had contracted it from the child's father who had returned from the US. A woman in Yavatmal, who had earlier tested negative and placed in an isolation ward, tested positive for the coronavirus; another youth in Pune who had also visited Dubai was diagnosed with COVID-19.
The team of Mumbai Live got in touch with people from several walks of life to understand the impact of COVID-19 and the experience of the past year. Mumbai based Dr Rajiv Kovil Consultant Diabetologist stated, “We have seen an upsurge in the number of positive cases in the last few days in Mumbai. Patients are getting themselves checked early on and hence detection rates are high. The good part is the fatality rate has come down.”
Aditi Pai from Andheri elucidated her experience as well stating, "I was on a cruise ship to Goa, when I first heard about COVID-19 reaching Mumbai. It was surreal. The rest of the trip was spent worrying if we will be able to get back to Mumbai? Will we have this too? At that time, the thought of what will happen if this virus reaches Mumbai had crossed my mind and I had brushed it off as I feared the repercussion. Can't believe it has been a year. It seems way longer. Even though the vaccine is there, the cases continue to surge and one still lives in fear. Life as we knew before COVID, seems like a dream."
Explaining about various COVID-19 treatment-related changes that the city witnessed this year, BMC additional commissioner Suresh Kakani said: “Firstly, infrastructure development has been taken place. Earlier, we did not have enough space and beds to control the pandemic situation. But the scenario has been changed now. Besides, oxygen supply is now taking place through the pipeline-based system with a capacity of 13,000 litres, however, previously it was 4,000 litres. Another technique called plasma therapy, which was not available earlier, but now that is also in place. PPE kits were never heard of until last year but now there are ample of PPE available wherever required.”
“Apart from treatment-related protocols, citizens have also started maintaining hygiene and cleanliness even at public places. Earlier, while treating patients it was not mandatory to use masks, hand gloves and head cap but now even doctors are taking precautions willingly,” added Kakani.
According to reports, there is a drop of 83 per cent in other illnesses compared to last year due to a better personal hygiene amongst citizens and cleanliness at public places.
He also said, “People have started following COVID-appropriate behavior like wearing masks and keeping safe distance. Moreover, habit of washing hands at activated interval is inherited amongst them.”
As Maharashtra battles a spike in COVID-19 cases in recent times, it becomes pertinent to remember the adequate measures that must be taken in order to deal with the new world that we are a part of now with regards to the pandemic.
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