14 February,2021 06:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Anurag Kamble
Commuters seen stepping out of a local at Dadar station. Suburban locals were opened for public over staggered timings in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) earlier this month
Over the last one week, the municipal corporations of Navi Mumbai and Panvel have witnessed a 25 per cent rise in daily cases. It is being speculated that the resumption of locals was responsible for the rise in number. "In the last week of January, we were reporting 50 daily cases, but now they have crossed the 70-mark," said an officer from the NMMC. However, the death count and recovery rate have remained stable, resulting in no significant jump in active cases, the official added.
Suburban locals were opened for public over staggered timings in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) earlier this month. Navi Mumbai and Panvel corporations have nearly 15 stations on the Harbour and Trans-Harbour railway lines.
Before resumption of the locals, both the corporations had reported fewer daily cases. However, the daily cases have gone up at least by 25 per cent in both the corporations this week.
Abhijeet Bangar, commissioner, NMMC said, "There is increase in cases throughout the state. We have also observed a rise, but it's too early to blame the locals." Another official said that they will need to analyse data of 15-20 days, before commenting. "The good thing is the numbers in the first 13 days have been in the range of 50 to 80."
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As far as the Panvel Corporation area is concerned, daily cases in January ended in the range of 15 to 30. "The range has increased to 30 to 50 per day," said the officer from PMC. "But, the important thing about managing a pandemic is deaths. There has been no increase in death rate in the PMC,"' the officer added.
Bangar said that if the trend or cases rising continues for another fortnight, it will be a cause for worry. "Till then everyone must take care while going out."
Patients reported in last 24 hours
NMMC: 66
PMC: 50
Active patients as on February 13
NMMC: 864
PMC: 322
Patients reported on January 31
NMMC: 47
PMC: 34
Active patients on January 31
NMMC: 802
PMC: 270
