New Delhi: Maharashtra witnessed a worrying rise in coronavirus cases on Thursday as the state reported 5,368 fresh infections, an increase of 1,468 cases over yesterday’s tally.
The state also recorded 1,193 cured and 22 deaths, while the active cases reached 18,217.
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The number of omicron cases in Maharashtra has reached 450, with 198 such cases being reported in the state today. Out of these, 190 cases were found in Mumbai alone.
According to the health department statement, four cases were reported from Thane and one each in Satara, Nanded, Pune MC and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope has urged citizens to avoid crowds and follow the guidelines to avoid infection. He also told that schools will not be closed yet.
“Around 4,000 cases were reported in Mumbai today. Today’s positivity rate is 8.48 percent. The SGTF kit should be used to differentiate between Omicron and Delta plus variants. The vaccination campaign should be done at full speed, everyone should be fully vaccinated”: Rajesh Tope, as reported by news agency ANI.
“I urge everyone to avoid crowding and follow the guidelines to avoid infection. School students (15-18 years) should be taken to vaccination centers in batches. This would result in a higher rate of vaccination. Schools will not be closed yet,” said Maharashtra Health Minister.
Mumbai reports 3,671 new coronavirus cases
Meanwhile, Maharashtra capital Mumbai recorded 3,671 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, an increase of 46.25 per cent over the previous day.
The new daily spike is the highest since May 5, but no new deaths have been recorded in the country’s financial capital, news agency PTI reported.
According to civic officials, Mumbai has reported zero fatalities for the seventh time in December. No death was reported due to the pandemic even on 25 December.
However, daily infections have risen alarmingly in the last ten days as only 283 infections were reported till December 20.
The number of active COVID-19 cases has also risen sharply from around 8,000 to 11,360 within 24 hours.
371 recovered patients were discharged from hospitals, taking the total number of recoveries in Mumbai to 7,49,159. The recovery rate of the city is 96 percent.
New COVID wave could be worse: Mumbai Mayor
Amid a sharp jump in fresh cases, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar warned on Thursday that the new wave of the coronavirus pandemic could be worse than the two earlier ones.
“The new wave could be even worse, so Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself was issuing an alert to the states,” he told the media.
Earlier versions of the coronavirus mostly infect adults, but the latest version is also infecting children, he insisted, adding that “it is necessary to be careful”.
Urging people to follow COVID-19-appropriate behavior, the Mayor of Mumbai said that she herself will abstain from marriages and other functions. omicron The crisis is over.
(with inputs from agencies)
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