Mumbai: BMC Data Shows 90 Per Cent Covid-19 Cases Are From High-Rise Buildings

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has compiled geographic data which shows that high rises and other standalone buildings continue to report the bulk of the Covid-19 cases in Mumbai.

According to BMC, about 90 per cent of cases are concentrated in high-rise buildings, while slums account for just 10 per cent as per a report published in Indian Express.

Non-slum areas comprising mainly high rises and standalone buildings have 79,032 active cases. Meanwhile, Slums have only 8,411 out of total of 87,443 active cases, till Friday (16 April).

A sharp increase in cases in high rise and standalone buildings, along with a concerted vaccination drive, can result in a faster build-up in seroprevalence, Neelkant Mishra of Credit Suisse, said. Mishra is tracking and analyzing the geographic spread of the Covid-19 in Mumbai.

In July 2020, the results of the first serosurvey showed the presence of antibody in slums stood at 57 per cent compared with 16 per cent in non-slums.

In August, antibodies were decreased to 45 per cent in slums, and rose slightly to 18 per cent for non-slums, a second survey found out.

BMC had to revise its SOPs due to difference in geographical spread. Earlier declared micro-containment zone, now housing society office bearers are tasked with ensuring that Covid-19 guidelines are followed.

“Following the high number of cases in buildings, the BMC officials are keeping a check on violations. An FIR was recently filed against residents of buildings after it was found that they were roaming outside despite being tested Covid positive,” an official from BMC said.

Mumbai reported 7,381 new cases on Monday, 19 April.