Pune reports the most COVID-19 cases in India, death toll still less than Mumbai

Shikha Chaurasia

Pune, 23 July 2020: Pune city has surpassed other districts and has been reporting the most Coronavirus Disease (COVID19) cases in India. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) reported the highest number of COVID-19 positive cases in a city, as per Maharashtra government report.

As of Wednesday, it had reported 2,111 new cases. PMC recorded 800 more cases than that of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) which reported 1,310 new cases.

A day before, PMC had reported 1,678 new cases while BMC reported 992 cases which mean PMC reported 686 more cases than that of Mumbai.

Mumbai so far had been the worst affected state with the novel Coronavirus but since the past few days, Pune has been reporting the most number of cases in India and has surpassed Mumbai.

The PMC has said that the city has been reporting the most number of cases because of its highest testing capacity and contact tracing process. Over 7,000 samples are being collected in Pune city.

Mayor Murlidhar Mohol said that due to the rapid antigen testing, Pune has been reporting the most number of cases. The efforts are on to set up a new COVID-19 facility at Balewadi with the help of PMC, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) with the hope of support from the state government.

PMC officials said that the maximum number of patients referred for testing are found through contact tracing process. Rapid antigen testing booths are being set up at various places through which local residents with suspicion can get themselves tested.

Though the PMC has been reporting the most number of cases, its death toll is still less than Mumbai.

Deaths reported by the PMC:
Monday- 22
Tuesday- 40
Wednesday- 36

Deaths reported by the BMC:
Monday- 41
Tuesday- 62
Wednesday- 58

Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, the burden on the city to treat and admit the patients is increasing.