No Weekend Lockdown In Mumbai As Of Now: Mayor Pednekar After City Reports 20K Fresh Covid Cases

Mumbai recorded more than 20,000 covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours among the more than 40,000 cases in Maharashtra.

Wall mural based on Covid warriors in Mumbai (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: Amid the rising number of covid-19 cases and fresh curbs being imposed to reduce the spread of the virus, the chances of a weekend lockdown have been cleared for time being by Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Saturday, reported news agency ANI.

Pednekar backed her decision by saying that the 2500 beds are still available at the BKC Jumbo Covid-19 Centre, and there are no patients in the ICU. “2500 beds are available at the BKC Jumbo COVID-19 Centre. So far, there are no ICU patients at the centre. Most patients are asymptomatic. Weekend lockdown will not be imposed for now,” she said.

Dr. Rajesh Dere, dean of the BKC Jumbo COVID-19 Centre also backed the decision by saying that there have been no deaths at the centre since December 1, and oxygen support is also not needed in most cases.

“From December 1 till now, we have 936 patients onboard with 100 daily admissions. Most patients do not need oxygen support. Till now, we have not had any mortality at the centre,” said Dr Dere.

Pednekar's statement comes after her remarks on Tuesday that if the daily COVID-19 cases here cross the 20,000-mark, a lockdown will be imposed in the city as per the Union government's rules.

Mumbai recorded more than 20,000 covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours among the more than 40,000 cases in Maharashtra. After the fresh cases in Maharashtra, the state has imposed a night curfew and a restriction on the movement of five or more people during the day starting January 10.

The night curfew is in place between 11 PM and 5 AM. And the other restrictions are to be followed between 5 AM and 11 PM. 13 deaths were recorded in Maharashtra in the last 24 hours.

Omicron cases in Maharashtra have reached 1009 with 133 new cases in the last 24 hours, reported news agency PTI. The highest number of Omicron cases are from Mumbai at 566.