Pune, The Worst COVID-19 Hit City In India Sees New Infections Slowing Down

With a total of 3,19,380 COVID-19 cases so far, Pune continues to be the worst affected city in the country.

While 2,72,772 patients have recovered 6,291 people have lost their lives to the illness so far. As of Thursday, there are a total of 40,316 active cases in Pune.

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But according to officials, there is some good news for the city as the overall COVID-19 positivity rate in the Pune division is on the decline.

An analysis by the Pune Municipal Corporation¡¯s (PMC) health department has shown that hospitals are seeing fewer Covid patients being admitted.

On October 12, 6,651 beds across government and private hospitals were occupied, while 8,766 were empty. In Covid hospitals, there were 193 normal beds without oxygen, 1,440 beds with oxygen, 174 ICU beds without ventilators and 95 with ventilators, all vacant.

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Most beds in the Covid care centres in the city were lying empty. The Pune Municipal Corporation has kept many such centres closed for now, with 1,047 beds being occupied and 6,864 remaining vacant. The recovery rate of Covid patients in the city is almost set to cross 90%, although there has been a slight increase in the mortality.

While it is good news for the city, officials warned that there is a possibility of another COVID-19 wave during December-January period due to a multitude of factors.

"As far as the Pune division is concerned, the overall positivity rate is on the decline. However, going by the alerts issued by the Centre and views of experts, we might face another wave in December and January," Pune divisional commissioner Saurabh Rao said.

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He listed factors like reopening of the economy on a large scale and upcoming festive season for the apprehension about another possible spike in cases.

"On their parts, Pune district administration and civic bodies are prioritising strengthening of infrastructure and are reaching out to masses to create awareness," he said.

Rao said the first phase of 'My family my responsibility' initiative was completed on October 10 during which 70,000 suspected patients were identified, and 14,000 of them tested positive for coronavirus.

"In the first phase, we could reach out to 94 per cent of the total population in the Pune division. Our aim is to reach out to the 100 per cent population in the second phase, which started on Wednesday," he said.