Covid-19: Mumbai to remain under Level-3 restrictions till June 27

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued orders on Monday stating that in spite of the low-positivity rate of the city, Mumbai will remain under Level-3 restrictions till June 27.

The reason for delaying the unlocking is Mumbai’s population, topography, and the number of people, who travel in and out of the city using local trains daily, and the possibility of a third Covid-19 wave, expressed by the Covid-19 Task Force and health experts.

The orders stated that Mumbai’s positivity rate was 3.79% and oxygen bed occupancy was 23.56%. According to this data, Mumbai should be in Level-1 of unlocking, but as the state has given powers to local administration to take the final call, BMC will continue the restrictions.

The order signed by BMC chief Iqbal Chahal stated that the decision may be reviewed later. Chahal is of the belief that Mumbai will remain under Level-3 restrictions till Covid cases come down to around 100-300 per day.

“Mumbai is reporting 700 Covid-19 cases per day, so it is not that cases have reduced considerably. We are cautious so that we don’t have to go back into lockdown. We will monitor the situation closely till the last week of June and then make a decision on further easing of restrictions,” said a senior BMC official.

“We are taking a slow and cautious approach given the warning for a third wave. BMC has the power to take a call for Mumbai. We will only ease to Level-2 restrictions when the cases drop consistently to around 100 to 200 per day. We will see how the situation pans out and then decide,” said the official.

BMC officials said that if restrictions are eased to Level-2 next week, then several areas could see crowds, and social-distancing measures might go for a toss. So, it is likely that Mumbai may remain in Level-3 restrictions till the end of June.

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