As India’s financial capital, Mumbai, gets ready for its biggest festival of the year, daily coronavirus cases have surged, rising more than two-fold in less than a month, even as authorities imposed curbs to prevent a further spike.
Markets were bustling and streets were crowded as people prepared for the 11-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival which begins today.
Coronavirus cases in the city, which were at a low of 190 on August 16, rose to 530 daily infections on Wednesday, according to government data.
Mumbai recorded a peak of 11,000 cases during India’s devastating second wave this year, but won accolades for the way it recovered and curbed infections.
Most coronavirus-related restrictions have been lifted in the city, including on its famed local trains, which are now open to fully vaccinated travellers.
But as the festival approaches, authorities have imposed fresh curbs on public processions and restricted crowding.
“The third wave is not coming. It is already here,” Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar told reporters this week, urging citizens to stay home and celebrate the festival.
As the festival season gets under way in India, several states are preparing for a possible third wave of the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the health ministry said one Covid vaccine dose alone is 96.6% effective in preventing Covid deaths in India, and two doses are 97.5% effective. The health ministry was speaking yesterday after analysing data between April and August.
India yesterday reported 43,263 Covid-19 cases, and 338 deaths related to the infection in 24 hours span as per the data by the health ministry.
People crowd at the Dadar flower market in Mumbai yesterday.
