Maharashtra has recorded 16 Covid-19 deaths in April so far, raising concerns among doctors over the uptick in the last few weeks. No Covid deaths were reported in the state in February. On March 3, Maharashtra recorded the first two Covid fatalities — in Ratnagiri and Satara. Twenty people died last month. Experts said the state is likely to record more fatalities this month. Data shared by the Public Health Department showed the state reported 16 deaths — two deaths daily on an average — in the last seven days. Cities such as Mumbai, Pune, and Thane share the maximum burden of active cases, with the three regions reporting six deaths between April 1 and 7. The remaining 10 deaths were reported from semi-urban and rural districts like Raigad, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, Aurangabad, and Sangli; with all the deceased suffering from underlying health issues like diabetes,, cancer, and tuberculosis among others. "One-third of the deceased didn't even receive their recommended third dose of vaccination, and most of them were above the age of 50, and suffered from comorbidities," said an officer from the Covid death committee. In the last 24 hours, Maharashtra recorded 926 fresh cases and three fatalities, with the active caseload rising to 4,487. Mumbai, meanwhile, crossed the 200-mark on Friday — for the fourth consecutive day — showed data. The city recorded 276 new cases — an increase of 27 per cent — against the previous day's 216 infections. Hospital admissions in Mumbai have also been increasing , with 104 Covid patients undergoing treatment on Friday, against 82 on April 1. During a review meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday, it was observed Maharashtra was among the three states with a positivity rate (cases per 100 tests) of more than 10 per cent. State health ministers were advised to personally monitor preparedness, including the availability of hospital beds. Dr Dayanand Suryawanshi, district health officer of Palghar, said, "We are focusing on early detection of infection. Earlier, we were conducting 100 tests per day, now, we will take it to 300.”
