Over 550 new cases in Maharashtra in a day

Infections soar to 4,200, with Mumbai recording 456 cases; State’s death toll rises to 12

20/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,PUNE

Grim task: Staff of Dadar crematorium in Mumbai leave after performing a victim’s last rites.Prashant Nakwe

Maharashtra reported a staggering surge of 552 new COVID-19 positive cases on Sunday — the State’s highest single-day surge yet — as its cumulative tally rose to 4,200 cases, while 12 more deaths were reported across the State, taking the death toll to 223.

Six of these deaths were reported from Mumbai city, while four fatalities were reported from Malegaon in Nashik, which is fast emerging as north Maharashtra’s virus hotspot. One death each was reported from Solapur district (the city’s second death), and Karjat-Jamkhed in Ahmednagar district.

“We have yet to receive information on whether the Malegaon fatalities had any comorbidities. Of six of the remaining eight deaths, 75% had high-risk co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma and heart disease,” informed State Surveillance Officer Dr. Pradeep Awate.

A silver lining came in the form of the 142 patients who were discharged from hospitals today, taking the total discharged till date to 502.

Mumbai city again reported the majority of new cases — as many as 456 — taking the city’s tally to 2,724 with 132 deaths.