'Don't panic over Centre's COVID-19 projections for Mumbai': Maha Health min Rajesh Tope

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday asked people t to panic over projections by Centre's health team on a surge of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai, stating that number of hot spots in state had reduced to five from 14. He also said that rate of doubling of cases in state had improved to 7.01 days from 3.1 days earlier this month. Earlier, Tope and Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) Committee on Wednesday visited Quarantine facility at Dharavi transit camp.

In an online address to people, Tope said, "re is need to panic over central government's team projections that Mumbai might have 42,604 cases by April 30 and 6.50 lakh patients by May 15. It is a mamatical model and re is a science about it. However, things here will t be static because every possible effort is being made to reduce threat and improve situation arising out of COVID-19. death rate has decreased and recovery rate is 13 per cent. Even hotspots have decreased from 14 to five." 

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Tope said state government has increased surveillance, screening, testing, and treatment and is following guidelines issued by ICMR.

Stating that Maharashtra has only five COVID-19 hotspots -- Mumbai, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune, Nagpur, and Nashik, he said, "We have improved our mortality rate which is around five w.  Soon, it will be four. Our aim is to protect everyone and take this mortality rate at zero." minister also said that plasma rapy has started on a full scale as per ICMR directions.

READ | COVID-19 Case Doubling Rate Slows To 7 Days In Maha: Tope

COVID-19 outbreak

A total of 431 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Maharashtra, taking cumulative number of cases to 5,649 in state while toll stood at 269, state health department said on Wednesday. Out of total deaths, 18 were reported on Wednesday in which 10 were from Mumbai and two from Pune.

total number of positive Coronavirus cases across country rose to over 20,471, including 15,859 active cases of virus. So far, 3,959 patients are cured/discharged while 652 deaths have been recorded, as per data provided by Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

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(with ANI inputs)