Maharashtra recorded 165 fresh Covid-19 cases and two deaths on Thursday, a day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray appealed to wear masks at public places and take necessary precautions to prevent a possible fourth wave.
Though the total number of daily Covid-19 cases dropped from 186 to 165, there was understandable anxiety among the state health authorities who are taking all measures to ensure against the fourth pandemic wave in the state. With 165 fresh infections, the total number of Covid-19 cases in the state rose from 78,77,264 to 79,77,429.
With two fresh deaths, the total number of deaths registered in the state since the outbreak of Covid-19 in the state in March 2020 went up from 1,47,838 to 1,47,840.
Of the total 165 fresh cases, Mumbai accounted for a maximum of 90 cases. With the fresh cases, the total number of cases in Mumbai mounted from 10,59,545 to 10,59,,635. While the recovery rate stood static at 98 per cent, the overall growth rate of Copvid-19 cases in the metropolis for a period from April 21 and 27 stood at 0.007 per cent.
As 157 Covid-19 patients were discharged from the hospitals across the state after full recovery, the total number of people discharged from the hospitals since the second week of March 2020 increased from 77,28,471 to 77,28,628. The recovery rate in the state stood static at 98.11 per cent.
The number of “active cases” in the state rose from 955 to 961. The fatality rate in the state stood static at 1.87 per cent. The active cases in Pune dropped to 6722. The active cases in Mumbai dropped from 563 on Wednesday to 562 on Thursday, while the number of active cases in the neighbouring Thane rose from 76 to 83 during the last 24 hours.
The active number of cases in Pune dropped from 219 on Wednesday and 217 on Thursday, while districts of Ahmednagar, Raigad and Dhule accounted for 17,16 and 13 casws respectively.
Of the 8,01,36,614 samples sent to various laboratories across the state so far, 78,77,429 have tested positive (9.83 per cent) for COVID-19 until Thursday.
On Wednesday, speaking at a review meeting with revenue divisional commissioners across the state, appealed to people to wear masks while stepping out of their homes and take necessary precautions to prevent a possible fourth wave of the Covid-19
The chief minister’s appeal to the people had come in the backdrop of an uptick in Covid-19 cases in the state, especially in Mumbai where more than 100 new cases were reported for the second straight day on Wednesday.
While the city had reported 102 cases on Tuesday, the figure increased to 112 on Wednesday. The last time Mumbai had witnessed 100 cases was on March 2. The number daily cases in Mumbai dropped to 90 on Thursday.
It may be recalled that on the Maharashtra New year day “Gudi Padva” had withdrawn all the Covid-19 restrictions, including the compulsion on wearing of masks, across the state. “All COVID restrictions in Maharashtra will be lifted, as we bring in the new year this Gudi Padwa!— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) had said in a tweet put out on March 31, 2022.
Earlier on March 2, the Maharashtra government had eased restrictions in as many as 14 districts, including Mumbai city, Mumbai suburban, Pune and Nagpur, with effect from March 4.
All shopping complexes, cinema halls, restaurants & bars, sports complexes, gyms, spas, swimming pools, religious places, theaters & auditoriums, tourist places, entertainment parks etc were allowed to operate with cent per capacity in 14 districts, while there will be 50 per cent restrictions in other districts.