Mumbai sees 1134 new COVID cases as city ushers muted 10-day Ganesh utsav amid pandemic

As Mumbai welcomes Lord Ganesha with muted pomp, financial capital reported 1134 new cases on Saturday with 32 new deaths. city also saw 1101 new recoveries taking its cured tally to 1,09,369. Mumbai's tally currently stands at 1,35,357 of which 18,298 are active and 7385 fatalities.

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Mumbai: 1134 new COVID cases

Mumbai is seeing a steady rise in recovery rate - standing at 81% w while its growth rise slowed to 0.82%. BMC reported that 6,97,368 samples have been tested till date with a 19.24% positivity rate. As per BMC's war room report, 139 of 912 ventilator beds were vacant, while 239 of 1431 ICU beds were vacant.

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Ganesh Chaturthi begins amid COVID

With Maharashtra being only state to allow public Ganesh pandals with strict restrictions, 10-day Ganesh festival began on Saturday with devotees restricting celebrations to ir homes and using online platforms to get 'darshan' of Lord at temples. Lalbaugcha Raja, Mumbai's best-kwn Sarvajanik (community) Ganeshotsav Mandal, cancelled festival this year in view of pandemic, arranging COVID plasma drive. Meanwhile, Wadala's GSB Sewa Samiti, considered one of richest mandals in metropolis, postponed celebrations to 'Magh Shudh Chaturthi' in February next year. 

Ganesh festival begins on low-key te amid COVID-19 pandemic

Maharashtra government in its guidelines for Ganeshotsav celebrations has said that processions should t be taken out before installing and immersing of idols and limited height of idols installed by sarvajanik mandals and at households to four feet and two feet, respectively. While Mumbai and its neighbouring areas  have been witnessing heavy rains since last few days, people stepped out to bring home idols of deity amid chants 'Ganpati bappa moraya'. Freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak had started this practice in 1917 during his visit to Burhanpur bordering Maharashtra.

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Mumbai's COVID crisis

With Maharashtra extending its lockdown, BMC has increased its containment zones to 608, while over 5795 buildings and chawls have been sealed and are being self-mand by society. While slums were initially where most cases were found, BMC claims that most cases were w found in housing societies. recent BMC report shows Borivali as most affected place with doubling rate at 47 days, while Sandhurst Road is least affected ward with a doubling rate at 125 days. Overall, Mumbai's doubling rate at 85 days is higher than national aver of 22 days.