Covid-19: Navi Mumbai cases shoot up by 10 times

Abhijit Bangar

With the Omicron variant of Covid-19 spreading across the state like wildfire, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) too has reported a sharp increase in positive cases. Within the last 10 days, daily cases in the city increased by 10 times, while active cases have gone up three times. Though there is no increase in Omicron cases in the city, officials have been asked to stay alert and ramp up testing.

The average daily cases in Navi Mumbai have been in the range of 20 since September 2021. But post December 22, the city saw a significant rise in cases. Within 10 days, the daily cases have shot up from 18 to 265. As far as active cases are concerned, on December 20, there were 365 patients in the city, but within 10 days it has multiplied swiftly crossing the 1,000-mark. On December 31, the active case number touched 1,170.

"We are definitely witnessing a surge in cases. As we all can see, there is tremendous lethargy among citizens as far as Covid-19 protocols are concerned," a health official said. Out of 454 Omicron cases detected in Maharashtra till December 31, Navi Mumbai has reported eight cases.

According to government officials, NMMC has 11.07 lakh citizens eligible for vaccination. As of now, more than 87 per cent of this population has been jabbed with both the doses. Abhijit Bangar, Commissioner, NMMC, said, "Cases have increased manifold within a very short span, citizens must act responsibly. The surge is dependent on the spread in the community. One must not lower their guard."

Navi Mumbai's Covid surge
Date Daily cases
Dec 26 64
Dec 27 72
Dec 28 83
Dec 29 165
Dec 30 266
Dec 31 265

Active cases
Dec 20 365
Dec 31 1,170