Two more Covid deaths in MMR take state count to 17
Mumbai: State health officials on Wednesday reported two more Covid-linked deaths in MMR, taking the region's fatality count to seven. While a 76-year-old cancer patient from Dombivli who had tested positive for Covid died during treatment on Wednesday, a Navi Mumbai resident who had diabetes, hypertension and a history of stroke died on June 2.
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Officials said a 76-year-old Kolhapur patient died on June 3, taking the state's tally of deaths to 17 since cases began to surge in mid-May. All deaths so far have involved patients with comorbidities and pre-existing medical conditions.
According to Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), the cancer patient was admitted to a private hospital on May 28 and tested positive for Covid. Dr Deepa Shukla, head of KDMC's health department, said of the 13 confirmed Covid cases under KDMC, three have died, seven have recovered, one is still in hospital, and two are isolating at home.
Meanwhile, with 32 new Covid cases on Wednesday, Mumbai's caseload since mid-May rose to 535.
Officials are urging Covid precautions in households with vulnerable residents, particularly those with comorbidities such as old age, cancer, diabetes or cardiovascular conditions.
In response to the rising numbers, civic hospitals are transferring patients to Seven Hills Hospital, which is designated for Covid care.
"There are six patients at the hospital at the moment. All of them have comorbidities and most are senior citizens. One or two are middle-aged. There is no lung involvement so far and all are stable," said a doctor from a civic hospital.
Cama Hospital also has emergency arrangements. It has reserved 10 beds for paediatric patients and 20 for women, according to Dr Tushar Palve, its medical superintendent. "We made the arrangements a couple of weeks ago as cases began to rise," he said. Dr Palve said so far, only a few children had been admitted with influenza-like symptoms and were tested for Covid; all tests returned negative.
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