47 fresh cases of Covid-19 in Mumbai still under Maharashtra govt scrutiny – Times of India

MUMBAI: Though BMC reported only one Covid-19 death on Monday, TOI learned about the second death, which the civic body said was still under scrutiny. Here the deceased was an 86-year-old woman from Ghatkopar, who passed away in L H Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, at 7am on Monday, almost 10 days after her US-returned son and maid tested positive. BMC’s T ward assistant municipal commissioner Kishore Gandhi said the woman, who was shifted from a private hospital in Mulund to Hiranandani Hospital after she was diagnosed as Covid-19 positive, died early on Monday. Gandhi said the octogenarian was under home quarantine after her son and the househelp tested positive. She had later shifted to a relative’s home in Mulund before being hospitalised. Since her son is positive, he couldn’t be present for the final rites; they were conducted by one of the son’s friends.
The first casualty from Pune, who was originally a Thane resident, was staying at his inlaws’ house in Erandwane. He succumbed to complications associated with Covid-19 infection at a private hospital. The man had underlying medical conditions, including diabetes and hypertension, but no history of recent international travel or any proximity to known infected persons or their contacts.

Despite two deaths of people having no travel history or contacts, state officials said they still can’t be called cases of community transmission. Dr Anup Yadav of the public health department said 39 patients have recovered and gone home.
A member of a Bollywood star’s family died late on Monday evening due to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Though his swab sample was sent for Covid-19 testing, the report is awaited. The family member, who is not in cinema, died at a private hospital in the western suburbs, a hospital source said. Though he did not stay with the star’s family, he is believed to have used the same gym in their building.
Speaking about the BMC’s 47 new cases, civic officials said the increase was due to a bookkeeping adjustment and not due to a surge in viral activity. “Only 20 cases were registered from Mumbai and another nine from surrounding suburbs in a 24-hour period,” said BMC’s deputy executive health officer Daksha Shah. The 18 extra added to Monday’s tally were confirmations from private laboratories for the first time. “To improve testing facilities, private laboratories were approved and 18 patients diagnosed between March 24 and 28 by various private laboratories were added to the list,” said Dr Shah, adding that the tally only reflects “vigorous contact tracing by the health teams”.
Despite that, travel histories of at least 11 of the 47 positives couldn’t be ascertained. Around 14 were close contacts of infected patients. The new cases were reported from the city and the suburbs alike. From MMR, three came from Mira Road, and one each from Virar, Nalasopara, Kalyan, Kalamboli, Dombivli and Nerul. The count of positive cases from Kalyan-Dombivli reached 10. The new patient is the 35-year old son of a 60-year-old woman patient. As per KDMC’s health department, the 35-year-old and his mother, who is undergoing treatment in Mumbai, were part of a wedding ceremony held on March 19. They are believed to have got infected after coming in contact with the bride’s brother who had returned from Turkey and attended the wedding despite being under home quarantine.
Apart from the 17 state cases on Monday, the government’s update stated, “some patient reports from Mumbai are yet to be received, so they are not being included in today’s report.”
-With inputs from Yogita Rao

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