Fadnavis urges CM Uddhav to ramp up COVID-19 testing in Mumbai, cites high fatality rate

On Tuesday, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis urged Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to increase COVID-19 testing in Mumbai amid rising fatality rate. He recalled that an aver of 6574 samples was tested for vel coronavirus daily in month of July with a corresponding fatality rate of 4.91%. On or hand, Fadnavis pointed out that first 17 days of August witnessed 7009 tests being conducted every day with an increased fatality rate of 5.40%. 

Mentioning that Mumbai's fatality rate was consistently over 5% as against India's fatality rate of 1.92%, he contended that testing numbers were very low. At present, Maharashtra's fatality rate is 3.35%.

reafter, former Maharashtra CM lamented that Mumbai has a COVID-19 positivity rate of 19.72% in comparison to country's positivity rate of 8.81%. He stressed need to focus on testing, identifying patients, and keeping citizens safe. Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly requested Thackeray to give instructions to concerned authorities in this regard.

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Demand for reopening gyms

Writing to Thackeray on August 14, Fadnavis backed demand for immediately reopening gymnasiums across state. Though Ministry of Home Affairs allowed gyms to resume functioning in Unlock 3.0 phase, Maharashtra government has retained earlier restrictions. Fadnavis argued that  social, ecomic, and psychological impact of COVID-19 crisis has to be factored in as well.

He lamented fact that gyms remained closed in state at a juncture when liquor shops have been permitted to operate. While conceding that financial considerations are important, Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly questioned Thackeray on lack of importance accorded to people's health. Citing example of barbershops, Fadnavis regretted fact that Maharashtra had t lead in reopening ecomic activities.

He said that all lockdown restrictions will have to be gradually relaxed. reafter, he alleged that state government's entire strategy to control spread of COVID-19 had failed. Moreover, BJP leader slammed MVA government for focusing more on rapid antigen tests than RT-PCR test for vel coronavirus.

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