In a huge spike in the number of deaths and infections in Maharashtra, as many as 22 persons died of Covid-19 on Saturday, taking the total number of deaths to 323 and a record 811 people tested positive in a day in the State, even as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) prepared itself to undertake Plasma therapy for eligible coronavirus patients.
On a day when the infected cases jumped from 6,817 to 7,628 triggering considerable anxiety among the health officials in the State, coronavirus claimed 22 more lives.
With fresh deaths, the Covid-19 death tally mounted to 323 in the deaths. Of the deaths, Mumbai accounted for 13 deaths, 4 in Pune, one each in Malegaon, Pune rural, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Dhule and Solapur.
The death toll in Mumbai climbed to 191, while there have so far been 73 deaths in Pune.
With a staggering 602 cases reported on Saturday, the total number of infected cases in Mumbai has risen to 5049. Similarly in Pune, the total number of infected cases mounted to 1030.
Of those dead, 16 were men, while 6 were women. Eleven of them aged over 60 years, eight were from the age group 40 to 59 years and three were under 40 years of age. “Thirteen out of 22 patients (59%) had high-risk co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, heart disease, TB etc,” the state health bulletin said.
Out of 1,08,972 laboratory samples tested till Saturday, 1,01,162 were negative and 7628 have been tested positive for coronavirus.
There are 555 active containment zones in the state currently. Total 8194 surveillance squads worked on worked on Friday worked today across the state and surveillance of 31.43 lakh population was done. 1076 patients have been discharged till date after full recovery. 2.
Currently, 1,25,393 people are in home quarantine and 8,124 people are in institutional quarantine.”
Meanwhile, the BMC is poised to start Plasma therapy for eligible Covid-19 positive patients. “Three units of plasma from recovered patients have already been collected from eligible donors. The recipient of Plasma Therapy has been identified and will receive Plasma as per Physician's advice. Patients’ blood group is getting matched,” the BMC bulletin said.
According to the bulletin, five more recovered Covid-19 patients have been screened to donate plasma. “Other recovered Covid-19 patients are being contacted, so that more number of severely ill patients can be benefitted from Plasma Therapy. Plasma pheresis machine is installed at Nair hospital to expedite the plasma separation and effective extraction,” the bulletin said.
Considering the vulnerability of Senior Citizens to Covid-19 and those with Co-morbid conditions like Diabetes, Hypertension, Asthma & Heart Disease, the BMC will undertake a house to house survey in slums of Mumbai, to identify the senior citizens & ensure that they are taking their medications for chronic diseases regularly. “The team will also check the Oxygen Saturation with Pulse Oxymeter on spot and if found low such citizens will be referred to non-Covid Peripheral Hospitals with a referral note for further treatment,” the bulletin added.