As the daily Covid-19 cases crossed the 16,000 mark in Maharashtra, the 'Golden Triangle', comprising the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and neighbouring belt of Pune and Nashik, has emerged as one of India’s worst hotspots yet again.
In terms of figures, the state is back to what it was in the second fortnight of September 2020.
On Sunday, the state recorded 16,620 fresh cases and 50 deaths taking the progressive total to 23,14,413 and 52,816 respectively.
The MMR, comprising the twin districts of Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban and neighbouring districts of Thane, Palghar and Raigad, posted a total of 3,676 cases, of which Mumbai accounts for 1,963 cases, ringing alarm bells for India’s financial capital.
However, the Maharashtra government is yet to take a final call on restrictions or lockdown in the MMR where crowding in public places and public transport has emerged as the key reason behind the numbers shooting up.
The Pune and Nashik districts — where there are restrictions and night curfew in place — recorded 3,259 and 1,344 fresh cases respectively, on Sunday.
The districts of Aurangabad and Amravati recorded 943 and 375 cases respectively. Nagpur, where a week-long lockdown will commence on Monday, recorded 2,353 cases.
“Everyone has to realise there is a difference between self-discipline and restrictions," Chief Minister Uddha Thackeray said on Saturday.
"Last week, a Central team visited Mumbai and one of the members told me no one was wearing masks or following social distancing at a hotel they visited. Initially, hotels, restaurants were adhering strictly to Covid-19 norms, but now everyone has become lackadaisical," he added.