Mumbai saw all-time low Covid-19 death rate in November

Mumbai saw an alltime low death rate last month since the beginning of the pandemic In November the death rate was 035 per cent while in March 2020 the death rate was 056 per cent It had gone up to 118 per cent in April 2021 As per the report received from the BMCrsquos health department the city has been seeing a steady fall in death rate after JulyIn July the COVID death rate was 069 per cent and it was 057 per cent in October In the first wave the death rate fell to 056 per cent in February after which it kept rising lsquoCredit to BMCrsquoSuresh Kakani additional municipal commissioner BMC said the credit for drop in death rate goes to the BMCrsquos initiatives and foresightedness in COVID19 managementldquoWe streamlined bed allocations for patients through our war rooms Our jumbo facilities had ample oxygen storage that helped us in the second wave We started Mission Save Lives and optimised our treatment protocolsrdquo he saidKakani said while the focus since the second wave has been on reducing the daily numbers and bringing deaths to single digit the BMCrsquos health department stayed focused on early detection and early allotment of beds ldquoWe had active and preventive surveillance of COVID cases which helped in early detection and to bring the death rate downrdquo he saidOf the four times that the city saw zero COVID19 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic three were this month As per the civic body data senior citizens accounted for 76 per cent of COVID deaths in January 84 per cent in February and 80 per cent in March As vaccination opened for the elderly in March their deaths dropped to 65 per cent in April while that of people between 4060 years touched 30 per cent up from 14 per cent in March In September and October however their proportion rose to 79 per cent and 80 per cent respectively almost like the prevaccination monthslsquoFollow appropriate behaviourrsquoDr Avinash Supe exdirector of BMC tertiary care hospitals and head of the state COVID19 death audit committee said it was seen that 50 per cent of the patients died within 48 hours of admission and there was also three to six days delay in starting treatment since the onset of the symptoms ldquoWe are in the endemic stage The stigma related to the disease is also lessPeople should ensure they are vaccinated and take medical help if they have symptoms We need to continue following COVID19 appropriate behaviour amid the Omicron variantrdquo he saidWhile there has been a steady decrease in the death rate and the cityrsquos test positivity rate has been below 1 per cent for the past few weeks Section 144 has been imposed amid the Omicron variant fear and keeping in mind the New Year revelryDr Rahul Pandit directorCritical Care Fortis Hospitals Mumbai and national COVID19 Task Force member said ldquoIn the ongoing situation and the fear of the new Omicron variant around it is important that people strictly follow COVID19 appropriate protocols It is especially important to avoid crowded places and venture out without double masking Imposition of Section 144 in the city is to safeguard the citizens and we must bear the responsibility of being cautious too Stay guarded and help healthcare providers and authorities by staying at homerdquo35Percentage of death rate in city in November