Mumbai:BMC seals 1300 buildings after Covid surge

More than a thousand buildings have been sealed in Mumbai after a spike in the number of coronavirus disease cases. According to BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC),  1,305 buildings have been sealed after 2,749 cases of Covid-19 were reported. This comes after the BMC issued a fresh set of guidelines in view of the outbreak. As per the new guidelines, buildings found to have more than five Covid-19 patients will be sealed. The municipal council has also doubled the number of marshals deployed across the city to take actions against people flouting Covid-19 protocols. Around 300 marshals will be deployed in suburban trains to take action against those travelling without masks, according to guidelines.

Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar has said if the surge in daily coronavirus figures is not stemmed and people don't follow Covid protocols, Mumbai may have to face another lockdown. Ms Pedneker said the coronavirus situation in Mumbai is "serious" and the BMC is doing all it can to bring it under control. Mumbai on Saturday reported 897 cases. Experts have attributed relaxations in Covid-19 norms as a reason behind the surge in cases. These "small curves" (spurts in infections) are happening due to lax behaviour as gatherings, weddings and various functions are happening and no physical distancing is being followed,

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government issued a circular under which it made negative RT-PCR certificate compulsory for passengers arriving in the state from Maharashtra. The regulation is applicable for all travelling from flights, buses, trains or personal transports and the report should not be older than 72 hours, as per the notice.