Covid cases double, BMC says spike due to rise in testing

The state, meanwhile, reported 155 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday.

As per data provided by BMC, there has been a gradual rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the city. On March 6, the city recorded seven cases, which increased to 14 the next day. On March 8, the figure dropped to seven cases, but increased to 18 the next day. The number of cases further increased to 21 on March 10 and 25 on March 11 and dropped to 18 again on March 12.

According to BMC, the city had 47 active cases till March 1, which shot up to 144 by March 14. Also worrying is the fact that 219 cases were registered in the first 14 days of March – an average of 16 cases per day. Between February 14 and 28, the average figure had stood at five cases per day.

Civic officials said most of the patients are asymptomatic, who are getting diagnosed with Covid-19 while undergoing treatment for flu.

“As a precautionary measure, most doctors advise a patient who has flu to undergo Covid-19 test … it has Covid-related symptoms like cough and cold. So, in the recent days, we have witnessed a slight rise in Covid-19 cases,” said an official from BMC’s health department.