As of 13th April, India has close to 10,000 cases with 300+ dead from COVID-19. 45% of India’s cases have been reported from the top 3 states – Maharashtra, Delhi and Tamil Nadu. Complete Coverage: Coronavirus
Crux of the Matter
The first COVID-19 positive case in Maharashtra was in Pune on 9 March 2020 and from then the state now has 2,000+ cases across 28 districts which is the highest in India. More than two-thirds of these cases have emerged in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The state had only 3 testing facilities till mid-March but by April 5, 15 government labs and 12 private labs approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research were set up across the state. As of April 12, Maharashtra tested more than 41,000 people out of which around 38,000 were negative and 1900+ have been tested positive. Around 200 odd patients have been discharged until now after full recovery. More than 61,000 people are in-home quarantine and around 5000 people are in institutional quarantine.
The state reported 229 new cases, the highest in a single day on 9th April following 14 cases being identified only in Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum, which now has been sealed. A 52-year-old BMC sweeper has been tested positive for coronavirus. He is a resident of Jijamata Nagar in Worli and his work area was Dharavi and both these areas have reported COVID-19 related deaths. About 23 contacts related to him have been quarantined.
BMC has identified 381 containment zones in Mumbai where the entry or exit of people have been barred and the BMC is providing door-to-door service of essentials in these areas. It has banned all unlicensed vegetable and fruit markets, hawkers and sellers in these zones. The Maharashtra government has also made the wearing of face masks mandatory in public places in Mumbai.
The Thane Municipal Corporation also identified 15 hot spots and declared them as Quarantine Containment zones. On April 9, NSCI dome in Worli also has been turned into a quarantine facility by BMC.
Mumbai and Pune are the 2 major hotspots out of 10 identified by the Central government. In terms of deaths, 92 are from Mumbai and 33 from Pune whereas 136 and 36 patients have recovered in the Mumbai and Pune respectively. The areas of Islampur in Sangli, Worli Kolivada in Mumbai, Peth areas of Kondhwa in Pune have been sealed to prevent community spread after a number of cases were identified.
People are facing difficulty in staying home in densely populated areas of Mumbai because as many as 15 people live in a 10×10 feet room. So, we are planning to accommodate them in schools in order to ensure social distancing. Rajesh Tope, Minister of Health Maharashtra
On April 12, 22 deaths were recorded out of which 6 of them were aged over 60 years, 15 were in the age group 40 to 60 years and 1 was less than 40 years old. 20 out of these 22 patients had high- risk comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma and heart disease.
From the following graph of the distribution of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra according to age groups, we can see that maximum cases are between the ages of 40-70.
Age-wise distribution of cases in Maharashtra Source: COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard by Public Health Department, Government of Maharashtra
SC Orders Free of Cost Testing On 8th April the Supreme Court asked the government to ensure all tests for COVID-19 are conducted free by public and private laboratories. SC gave 2 weeks to govt for a reply and suggested that the government should come up with a mechanism where the private laboratories can be reimbursed for these tests. This decision has now sparked a debate on if it is a case of judicial overreach.
We find prima facie substance in the submission of the petitioner that at this time of national calamity, permitting private labs to charge Rs 4,500 for screening and confirmation test of COVID-19 may not be within means of a large part of the population of this country and no person should be deprived. Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice S Ravindra Bhat
Current Situation Across India
Source WHO Report
On the 19th day of the lockdown, India’s tally jumped by over 900 cases in 24 hours, taking the total count to 9352 with 324 deaths as of 13th April 2020. After Maharashtra; Delhi and Tamil Nadu have the highest numbers with 1154 and 1043 respectively. Uttar Pradesh has been successful in avoiding community spread and has 427 cases.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with all Chief Ministers to strategize ahead-considering extension of lockdown for tackling COVID-19. Following which, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, and Odisha have extended the lockdown till April 30. The timeline of India’s current situation can be seen in the graphic represented below.
Source: WHO Report
New Delhi After the cases in Delhi doubled from 223 on April 2 to 447 on April 4, the government has declared 43 hotspots as containment zones and sealed them to combat the spread of the virus. Several parts of Nizamuddin, Dilshad Garden, Vasundhara Enclave, Kalyanpuri, Pandav Nagar, Krishan Kunj, Khichripur, Malviya Nagar, Sangam Vihar and Patparganj have been sealed.
We have declared COVID-19 containment zones as red zones and high-risk zones as orange zones. We have identified more containment zones in the national capital. Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister Delhi
The Union Health Ministry had earlier reported the increase in doubling of cases in fewer days due to the spread originated at the Tablighi Jamaat convention in Delhi. Many state governments have questioned the inaction of Delhi government and police and have held them responsible for the spread across the country.
Delhi Police could have stopped the program at Nizamuddin. A program similar to Delhi’s Nizamuddin was scheduled to be held near Mumbai in Vasai on March 15-16 but was not allowed by us. Why did the Delhi Police not stop this program like us? Because of this, COVID-19 cases have increased. Anil Deshmukh, Maharashtra Home Minister
Jammu & Kashmir The state has recorded 245 cases with 4 deaths and thus tight security measures have been imposed with the markets and public transport also being closed down. The biggest congregation on this occasion which is held every year at the Hazratbal shrine on the banks of Dal Lake here was canceled. No night prayers were held at any major mosque or shrine in Kashmir on Shab-e-Baraat after the District Magistrate of Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary issued an order under Section 144 CrPC prohibiting all religious congregations and public movement. Following the order from Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; authorities have intensified ground surveillance to track travelers, who hid their recent travel history after a group of 5 African travelers were caught and found COVID positive.
Curiopedia
The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 is a law that was first enacted to tackle bubonic plague in Mumbai in former British India.
Jaslok Hospital, which is a premier healthcare center in Mumbai, had to shut admission of new patients due to one asymptomatic patient tested positive for COVID-19, which resulted in as much as 21 staff members also testing positive.
Maharashtra is the first Indian state to cross 1000 positive cases mark. Delhi and Tamil Nadu are the only other 2 states to also cross this mark.
Curated Coverage
Live Mint – Maharashtra govt seals all hotspots, including Dharavi
Times of India – Covid-19 cases cross 700 mark in Delhi as death toll rises to 12
Live Mint – Out of 1,346 COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, more than half from Mumbai : Rajesh Tope
Economic Times – Covid-19 cases doubled in 8 out of 10 states in 2-4 days
Economic Times – Covid-19: No prayers in mosques, shrines on Shab-e-Baraat in Kashmir
Bloomberg Quint – Make Covid-19 Tests By Private Labs Free, Supreme Court Tells Government
Economic Times -20 coronavirus hotspots sealed in Delhi to control Covid-19 spread
PIB – PM interacts with CMs to strategize ahead for tackling COVID-19
Economic Times – Surveillance stepped up in Kashmir to track COVID-19 cases
Government of Maharashtra – Current Report of COVID-19-Maharashtra
Comments