The number of COVID cases are rising sharply across the entire state of Maharashtra. Mumbai has reported a near-doubling of number of COVID positive cases from around 350 per day to 645 per day within a week. Amravati, Nagpur, Pune and other cities in Mumbai are also reporting a significant rise in the number of cases. Over 4000 new cases have been detected in Maharashtra in the past 24 hours (14/2/2021), for the first time in over a month. In Pune, test positivity rate has almost doubled in a week, indicating a significant degree of spread in community once again. In Nagpur and Amravati, the rise in new cases has been sharp enough for the local administration to reinforce control measures and defer openings of educational institutions. The number of fresh cases has once again started exceeding the number of recovered patients in Nagpur and Vidarbha districts. In Amravati, the number of fresh cases has shot up by seven times.
All this clearly indicates that the second wave of COVID has started in earnest in Maharashtra. Complacency and carelessness has crept into the population, and this is obvious to anyone who visits public places nowadays. Hardly anyone is seen wearing a mask in rural and semi-urban areas. Even in Mumbai and other metros, people are blatantly ignoring protective measures. We are in wedding season in India. Hardly anyone is seen wearing a mask in wedding functions. Hundreds of people stuffed inside an air-conditioned hall without masks or social distancing, is a certain recipe for disaster. It is no wonder that wedding parties and vacations are acting as super-spreaders as the government has lifted curbs on mass gatherings.
Though the situation is still under control, if people do not pull up their socks and start following proper measures such as wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and avoiding overcrowded places, we are in for big trouble in the next few weeks in Maharashtra.