Mumbai’s Dharavi records just one fresh COVID-19 case

 Asia’s largest slum Dharavi reported only one new coronavirus patient on Tuesday which took the case tally in the densely populated area in the heart of Mumbai to 2,335, an official stated.

Spread over 613 hectares with a density of over 3.6 lakh people per sq. km, the first case in Dharavi was recorded on April 1 while the last time it had recorded a single new coronavirus case was on April 5, three months ago.

A Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official told PTI that Dharavi has only 352 active COVID-19 cases as 1,735 patients have been discharged from hospitals upon recovery although the BMC has not shared any latest information about COVID-19 deaths in the area.

While weeks ago Dharavi was considered the biggest threat to Mumbai’s fight against the pandemic as cramped living spaces and shared bathrooms made social distancing a difficult ask, a strict lockdown and blocking the movement of residents except for essential services has proved to be beneficial. Maharashtra Has been one of the worst hit states in India with more than 217,121 cases and over nine thousand deaths. The Maharashra government has now decided to allow tests with doctors’ prescription in an attempt to increase testings.