After the first coronavirus case was detected in Dharavi, the most congested part of Mumbai and one of the largest slums in the world, it has raised concerns among the health authorities in Maharashtra about the virus spreading in the slums.
After being tested positive on Wednesday, the 56-year-old patient died later in the night at Sion Hospital.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope, while speaking to India Today TV on Wednesday said, So far the virus seemed to be classist but now it is being seen among the masses as well. It is a matter of concern once the virus reaches a congested place such as Dharavi.
The deceased had no foreign travel history and used to run a local garments shop in Dharavi. Authorities have sealed the entire society he lived in which has over 300 flats and some 90 shops.
All high-risk contacts in the area have been stamped and quarantined following the detection.
“Swabs of all family members and residents of the building are being sent for testing. All senior citizens and patients with respiratory illness in Baliga Nagar will be tested, said Kiran Dighavkar, ward officer.
He also said that BMC will ensure food and ration reaches the building.
Minister Rajesh Tope has further said the over 4000 health workers are on the job of tracing and testing all suspected cases of coronavirus.
The Maharashtra government is following the policy of 3Ts tracing, testing and treatment to identify all cases in the state, said Tope.
The minister further said, 70-80% of Maharashtra’s cases have travel history while the rest from contact. We haven’t concluded how 10-20 people got the virus but we are still digging, we’ll find out how they contracted the disease.Speaking about how the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi’s Nizamuddin had an impact in the cases in Maharashtra, the minister said 449 people have been tracked to Mumbai while 136 have been identified in Pune.
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