Mumbai: The total number of active COVID-19 patients in Maharashtra has crossed 500. On Tuesday, the state reported 86 new cases, of which maximum 26 were from Mumbai, followed by 24 from Pune. Nine patients were reported from Thane and six from Navi Mumbai. This has taken the total number of active COVID-19 cases to 510 in the state, the state health department informed.
In Mumbai, from January 2025 total 509 COVID cases are registered, of which 503 are reported in the month of May, as per the state health department press note.
The state has also registered two more deaths taking the death toll to 14. But the health department has said that 13 of them suffered from comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, interstitial lung disease, chronic bronchitis and cardiac issues.
Although the numbers highlight sudden spike in COVID cases, authorities say the symptoms are mild and citizens should not panic. "The sporadic increase in COVID patients is being seen not only in Maharashtra, but also in other states and some other countries," the health department said.
Amid the rising cases, the state health department on Monday also issued advisory to civic administrators and collectors across Maharashtra to follow guidelines for handling COVID 19 patients, arranging isolated beds, medical oxygen, PPE kits etc.
Speaking on rising COVID cases in Mumbai, BMC Executive health officer, Daksha Shah said that BMC has arranged sufficient beds, testing and treatment facilities. "We are following all guidelines given by the government, including sending everyday reports. Although there is sudden spike in May, the symptoms are mild."
"Citizens should take precautions like wearing masks (if needed, it is not mandated), washing hands regularly etc. People with comorbidities like diabetes, blood pressure, asthma, and senior citizens should be more cautious," Dr Shah said.
Recently, interacting with the media during an event in Chennai, former chief scientist of World Health Organization, Dr Soumya Swaminathan said that the current surgery in COVID 19 cases is driven by sub-variants of the Omicron strain. While, the virus may have under-gone some mutations, the overall strain remained the same. "There is no need to fear COVID-19 due to the immunity people have acquired over the last few years," Dr Swaminathan said.
Asked if there is a new COVID-19 variant, Dr Shah said that the government has not informed about any new subvariant.
However, doctors treating the patients daily say otherwise. "By type of patients, symptoms (which are mild fever, body pains etc) and the recovery process, most probably it is a subvariant. If the patients consult the doctor immediately, they are recovering within 3 to 4 days. However, patients with comorbidities can take little longer," said Dr Manish Deliwala, a general physician practising in Chembur.
"As the monsoon related illnesses are also on the rise now, like fever, cold and cough etc.- which had similar symptoms to COVID, patients should not self medicate and consult a doctor immediately," Dr Deliwala added.
Dr Akshay Dongardive, National President for FAIMA and President BMC MARD (Nair hospital) said, "The resident doctors have not received any specific guidelines. The BMC major hospitals starts Evening Fever OPD at it's major hospitals, and that will help in managing the patient load. The symptoms for monsoon illnesses and COVID are similar, thus patients should not self treat and consult a doctor immediately."
Meanwhile, the BMC this month will start it's Evening Fever OPD at it's four major hospitals- KEM, Sion and Cooper, while the services at Nair hospital have already begun. The evening OPDs are aimed at managing the patient load during the monsoon.
