MUMBAI: Maharashtra’s daily detections dropped to the lowest in 90 days as 10,219 Covid-19 cases were registered on Monday.
The ‘dip’ is possibly due to the ‘Sunday effect’ of fewer workforce resulting in fewer tests; only 1.8 lakh tests were conducted on Sunday as against 2.5 lakh plus conducted on weekdays.
The state added 154 deaths, the lowest in 69 days since March 30 (139), and 186 old deaths were added to the cumulative toll.
With this, the total caseload of the state rose to 58.4 lakh and fatalities touched 1,00,470.
In Mumbai, however, the weekend for the first time had no effect on the testing numbers as 28,076 tests were carried out as is usually done on weekdays.
The daily detections (730) were below 800 for the second day in a row.
The daily test positivity, for the first time in the second wave, dropped to 2.6%.
BMC officials said more tests were conducted this Sund-ay as many people in the service sector got themselves tested ahead of the unlocking on Monday.
“Many shopkeers called th-eir staff to clean the premises and may have got them tested too,” said a BMC doctor.
“Also, due to the relaxation of restrictions, there were more crowds and we were able to conduct our rapid testing programme.” Dr Shashank Joshi of the state Covid task force said it is reassuring that the second wave has declined in Mumbai, but there is still a need for caution.
“If we are reckless in not following Covid-appropriate behaviour this time too, the third wave will inevitably follow.
While it is most likely in September, failure to adhere to the norms could hasten its arrival,” he said.