Covid-19: Maharashtra worried over Mumbai’s high mortality rate

The state on Monday formed a nine-member task force of specialist doctors from public and private hospitals, led by Sanjay Oak, to finalise a protocol for better clinical management of the critically-ill patients. The task force will also recommend a uniform drug protocol and work towards bringing down the mortality rate in the city. The state government has ordered that chief medical officers of all hospitals where covid-19 patients have died will have to submit a report to the committee. Despite Mumbai city corporation’s containment efforts, the number of positive cases and related deaths are rising every day. Maharashtra’s infection and death rate are far higher than any other state in India, with the fatality number firm at 6.5-7%. Explaining the possible reasons for the high mortality rate in Mumbai, state health commissioner Anup Yadav told Mint, “Prima facie, we’re seeing that in the majority of covid-19 cases, the manifestation of the virus is slightly different. “The government formed the committee to study the patterns and reasons for the high number of deaths. Speaking to Mint, Shivkumar Utture, president of the Maharashtra Medical Council, said extreme congestion in Mumbai has made containment much harder than elsewhere in the country. Utture’s council and various local medical associations are working voluntarily in slums--Worli-Koliwada, Mukund Nagar and Dharavi--offering free consultation to patients and aiding the MCGM. “This virus spreads faster than the common cold and it is difficult to protect vulnerable populations who either have co-morbidities or lack strong immune systems because of poor nutrition.