Dharavi sees just three new cases, lowest in the second wave

MUMBAI’S DHARAVI, the 2.5 sq km sprawl known as Asia’s largest slum, recorded three new Covid cases on Wednesday, the lowest since February when the second wave surged through the city.

Some statistics:

• Dharavi has reported 6,798 cases since last year’s outbreak.
• Of these, around 36 % (2,500) of cases were recorded in March and April this year.
• Soon after the second wave began in mid-February, Dharavi recorded 10 daily cases.
• In March, the area was averaging 50 cases daily.
• By March 23, the 250-bed quarantine centre in Vanita Samaj Hall was full even as the active caseload rose to 180.
• On April 8, the highest single-day increase was recorded at 99, sparking serious concerns.
• On May 1, Dharavi had 947 active cases. Wednesday’s data show 62 active cases.

Since May 10, Dharavi has been recording a daily drop in the cases. This is in line with the drop in daily cases across Mumbai, where the number of daily cases was in the range of 300-500, rose to over a thousand by February, and spiked sharply in March and April.

By February-end, the BMC started conducting tests at five centres in the area, with mobile testing vans deployed to cover narrow alleys. Now the vaccination centres will be increased.

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