First signs of fresh trouble? Mumbai reports surge in Covid-19 cases after reaching record low in recent days

Jijamata Nagar, Worli, in the G South ward, is being specially monitored for a rise in cases. File pic

The city has reported a surge in COVID-19 cases after reaching a record low in recent days. On Wednesday, the city registered about 25 per cent growth in new cases within a day. The rise is seen in a few areas out of the 24 civic wards. Parel, Mulund and Dahisar are showing more than double the average cases in the last week. Though it cannot be termed as a trend, it can help the BMC trace and track patients and their contacts.

The BMC has been tracing new patients in each ward. On Tuesday, there were 288 cases and on Wednesday, they rose to 363. A major increase is seen in a few wards where on Wednesday, the cases were double of their average on each of the preceding six days.

G South ward, which comprises Parel, Worli and Prabhadevi, reported 18 cases on Wednesday. The ward had reported five, five, six, six, four, and six cases over six days before Wednesday. "The cases rose as three families registered five, three, and two cases, respectively, on a single day. They don't have any travel history. We cannot make a conclusion based on one day's hike and are closely monitoring the situation, especially at Worli Koliwada and Jijamata Nagar where there is only one active case," said Sharad Ughade, assistant commissioner of G South ward. Worli Koliwada was the first area to be completely sealed during the first COVID-19 wave.

Workers take a break under their haathgaadis in Andheri West in May. K West, comprising Andheri W, is another ward with consistently high numbers. File pic

Similarly, in the C ward, comprising Girgoan, daily cases were in the range of two to three. On Wednesday, the ward reported seven cases. Though A ward, comprising Fort, Colaba and Nariman Point, reported eight patients on Wednesday, which is equal to its average of the week, the ward reported 17 patients on Tuesday.

Worry over Mulund

T ward, comprising Mulund, is one of the wards reporting a higher number of cases throughout the second wave. The ward reported an average of 14 cases in the past week and 30 cases on Wednesday.

In the Western suburbs, despite being one of the largest wards, R North (Dahisar) has fewer cases. But on Wednesday, it registered 14 cases as against an average of seven cases on the previous days of the week. "The cases fluctuate sometimes. Throughout the week, the cases were in single-digit and now there are a few more. We can't call it a surge. All cases are from high-rises," said Mrudula Ande, assistant commissioner, R North ward.

High numbers in Andheri W

K West, comprising Andheri West, Vile Parle West and Jogeshwari West has been on top of the list of wards that report the highest cases. Even now, the ward has an average of 25 cases for the past week and 37 daily cases were reported on August 4.

"Sometimes cases were detected after antigen testing camps were conducted. We have instances when more than five cases were reported from the same building after testing," said a BMC official.

"We cannot call it a trend. But ward-level numbers can help us trace and track high-risk contacts and curb the spread of the virus," said another BMC official.

18
No. of cases on Wed in G South (Worli, Prabhadevi, Parel)