Maharashtra detects 9,170 new Covid-19 infections, including 6 Omicron cases

As many as 9,170 more people tested positive for Covid-19 across Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, the state health department said on Saturday. The state has witnessed a hike of 13% in fresh cases.

Mumbai alone detected 6,347 fresh cases of Covid-19 – a 12% hike as compared to Friday – and one death due to the virus. Out of the total, 5,712 patients are asymptomatic and 451 have recovered.

Maharashtra, which witnessed a dramatic rise in coronavirus cases in the last 11 days of 2021, saw its cumulative tally rising to 66,87,991 on Saturday, an official said. As many as 1,445 patients were discharged, taking the tally of those recovered so far to 65,10,541.

The case fatality rate in the state is 2.11% and the recovery rate is at 97.35%. Maharashtra now has 32,225 active cases.

Saturday's tally also includes six cases of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus – all from Pune. Maharashtra has so far recorded 460 cases of Omicron, marked as a 'variant of concern' by the WHO.

Of this, Mumbai has the most number of Omicron cases at 327, followed by Pimpri-Chinchwad (28).

This comes as Maharashtra additional chief secretary health Dr Pradeep Vyas on Friday warned that the state may start reporting a total of two lakh active Covid-19 cases by the third week of January.

“Based on the current trend of rising Covid cases in the state, it is expected that we will have about two lakh active cases by the third week of January 2022. Separate instructions are issued for managing these numbers, in case some of them need hospitalization," said Dr Pradeep Vyas.

He also warned people to not take the Omicron surge lightly. "Don't be lulled by the narrative that third wave or Omicron wave is mild and not fatal. It's equally fatal for those who are not vaccinated and have comorbidities. So please improve vaccination coverage and save lives," he said.

In view of the spiking cases, the Maharashtra government has announced fresh curbs on attendance at weddings, social, political, religious events, and funerals.

"In case of marriages or any other social, political or religious event, the maximum number of attendees shall be restricted to 50 persons. The maximum number of attendees is restricted to 20 in funerals," a state government order read.

“In any other part of the state which are tourist spots that attract a large crowd of people such as beaches, open grounds, etc, the competent authority may as deemed appropriate, impose section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973," it stated.