WHO lauds Dharavi's efforts to contain coronavirus, says testing is key

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday lauded the efforts put in to break the chain of the novel coronavirus in the "densely packed area in the megacity of Mumbai", Dharavi, among other countries.

Stating Italy, Spain and South Korea, and even in Dharavi as examples, WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that however "intense" the outbreak was in some countries, the coronavirus could still be chased through aggressive action. He also said that it is still possible to bring coronavirus outbreaks under control, even though the number of cases has more than doubled in the past six weeks.

Earlier, the Centre had also praised the Mumbai civic body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), for "actively" chasing the novel coronavirus in Dharavi, saying proactive measures reduced the growth rate of the infection in Asia's largest slum to 1.02 per cent in June from 12 per cent in April. The Union Health Ministry had lauded the BMC for ensuring a steep decline of daily Covid-19 cases in Dharavi from an average of 43 in May to 19 in the third week of June.