No immediate lockdown in Mumbai amid rise in COVID-19 cases: Civic officials

Despite the rise in COVID19 cases the situation in Mumbai is under control and there is no immediate need to impose a lockdown in the city senior civic officials said on TuesdayMumbai on Monday recorded 1008 fresh infections that raised its tally to 334572When asked about the possibility of imposing a lockdown municipal commissioner Iqbal Chahal said there was no immediate need to do soAccording to civic officials the surge in cases is a result of an increase in daily testingThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC has ramped up testing significantly from 11000 to 15000 tests conducted in January to over 20000 at presentAs many as 23000 COVID19 tests were conducted by the civic body on MondayThe city has recorded a positivity rate of six per cent which is quite less compared to other cities in Maharashtra a civic official saidConsidering this there is no immediate need to impose a lockdown in the metropolis the official saidOfficials have however warned that if citizens do not follow the COVID19 protocol the civic body may be forced to take stringent stepsSpeaking to media persons a senior BMC official said nearly 60 per cent beds are available for COVID19 patients at city hospitalsThe civic body has undertaken the third sero survey in Mumbai and 12000 samples have been collected under this the official said adding that a report is expected in two weeksThe COVID19 immunisation drive is underway at 67 centres including 24 civic hospitals four staterun hospitals and 38 private hospitals the official saidThe civic body is planning to increase the number of the vaccination centres to 85 he saidMeanwhile Mumbai Guardian Minister Aslam Shaikh on Tuesday said if COVID19 cases continue to rise in the city the possibility of a night curfew or partial lockdown cannot be ruled outShaikh said local authorities have been empowered to take a decision on lockdown as and when necessaryThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever