Opposition leader in Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis has accused Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) of suppressing the actual number of deaths by placing several incidents of Covid deaths in the “deaths due to other reasons” category.
In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Fadnavis has said that norms set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) require that every death of a Covid-positive patient be reported as a Covid death, with the only exception being death due to accident, suicide, murder or in extreme cases like the death of a Covid-positive brain-dead patient or a fourth-stage cancer patient.
Nevertheless, BMC refuted the claims saying that it has been maintaining utmost transparency since the pandemic broke out last year. The statistics of Covid infection rate in Mumbai were transparent and being recorded as per the criteria laid down by the WHO and ICMR, the civic body claimed.
The statement released by BMC read, “BMC is conducting Covid-19 tests and identifying deaths as per the guidelines set up by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Indian Institute of Medical Research (ICMR). The administration’s relentless efforts in the management of the pandemic are showing positive results and Mumbaikars are also cooperating, which is why the rate of infection is declining.”
BMC further reiterated that no attempts have been made by the municipal administration to hide or underestimate the rate of Covid cases in Mumbai and all the information is given to the government regularly.
BMC said that allegations were made about the infection rate being concealed by keeping the number of antigen tests higher and the level of RTPCR tests low. “RTPCR tests are performed on those whose antigen test reports negative but who are showing symptoms,” read the BMC statement.
In January 2021, 4,44,783 lakh tests had been done while in February 4,76, 254 tests were done. In March, 8,38, 210 tests were conducted, while in April nearly 13,31,697 people were tested. During the period from May 2020 to May 7, 2021, a total of 59,18,815 tests have been conducted in Mumbai, said a BMC official.
Fadnavis in his letter further warned, “Low testing results in high infection and high fatality, and if bodies of Covid positive people are put in the deaths due to other reasons category and not cremated as per Covid protocol it would give rise to entirely different problems.”
While stating he did not wish to undermine the efforts of the BMC and the government, Fadnavis said the picture which is being presented by the BMC through PR agencies is misleading and could weaken the fight against Covid even as the state prepares for the third wave.