Mumbai slums in the grip of Covid-19 yet again

A file pic of Hanuman Nagar slum in Kandivli that was declared containment zone during the first wave of the pandemic

While a majority of Covid-19 cases in the city are being reported from highrises, the infection is also spreading rapidly in the slums. In the last three days, at least 11 areas with congested housing were declared as containment zones (CZ) after reporting more than five cases. The L Ward, comprising Kurla and Chembur, has the maximum number of CZs.

During the first wave, most of the slums were declared CZz after 60 to 70 per cent cases were reported from these areas. In the second wave too, the administration closed the entry points of many areas to curb the spread. But as the second wave started receding, the number of CZs in slums reduced drastically. There were hardly five CZ pockets in July and by August 13, not a single pocket in the slums reported more than five cases. While there was a small surge in cases when the city reopened in mid-August, the slums didn't have any CZs.

Even during the third week of December, when the cases started doubling within a day or two, more than 90 per cent of the cases were reported from skyscrapers among people who had a history of foreign travel or had come in close contact with someone from there. However, in the last few days, the infection has spread across all communities.

Out of the 11 wards, seven are in L Ward, three are from D Ward comprising Malabar Hill, Tardeo and one in G South comprising Worli, Mahalaxmi and Parel. Altogether, these 11 CZs have 24,000 houses with a population of 1.23 lakh. "These areas have been declared CZ by the central war room based on the cases reported. Sometimes the cases are from nearby pockets. Right now, we haven't closed the entries of these areas," said a health official from D ward. The first CZ was reported from the D ward in Banganga. Meanwhile, 128 buildings (more than five cases) and 3,020 floors (less than five cases) have been sealed across the city.

1.23L
No. of people residing in the containment zones