Mumbai, Nov 23 (IANS): Amid apprehensions of a possible 'second wave', Covid-19 deaths dropped in the sub-100 range for the third day - plummeting to just 30, and the number of 'active cases' continued to increase, health authorities said here on Monday.

After three days in the three-digit figures last week, the state's deaths dropped to 30- compared with the peak tally of 515 (Sep. 15) - and the state fatalities shot up from 46,623 to 46,653. Previously, the state had reported 34 fatalities on May 5.

After five days, the new infections in the state fell below the 5K mark, with 4,153 fresh cases - compared with the peak single-day tally of 24,886 (Sep. 11) - and the number of total cases went up from 17,80,208 to 17,84,361 till date.

As many as 25 of the state's 36 districts recorded zero fatalities, including hotspots like Palghar, Raigad, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Sangli, Aurangabad, Akola, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, Nagpur and Gadchiroli.

For the third day the state recovery rate dropped marginally, from 92.75 percent to 92.74 percent - while the current mortality (death) rate improved fractionally from 2.62 per cent to 2.61 per cent.

Simultaneously, another chunk of 3,729 fully recovered patients returned home - taking the total from 16,51,064 to 16,54,793 till date - much higher than the 81,902 'active cases' (ill), which have shown an increase again.

Of the 30 deaths declared, Mumbai led the state with 14 fatalities, 3 each in Satara, Latur and Beed, 2 in Pune, 1 each in Thane, Nashik, Solapur, Nanded and Chandrapur.

Remaining in the sub-50 range for the 22st day this month, Mumbai recorded 14 fatalities or touching to April-levels, and the city toll climbed from 10,675 to 16,689 now.

Mumbai again dropped to the sub-1,000 mark with new 800 new infections that took up the total from 275,714 to 276,514 now.

Of the total 8 Circles, Mumbai circle (MMR - comprising Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad) remains on the brink as deaths spiral and cases pile up due to the contagion.

The MMR recorded 15 new deaths - or half the state's total - pushing up the toll from 18,504 to 18,519 and with another spike of 1,551 new infectees, the total cases zoomed from 617,474 the previous day to 619,025 now.

Pune circle (comprising Pune, Solapur and Satara districts) fell to single-digit level with 6 fatalities, and the death toll zoomed up from 10,509 to 10,515 and the daily infections increased by 793 - from 445,833 a day earlier to 446,626 cases now.

Meanwhile, the number of people sent to home quarantine increased - from 515,976 to 517,711 now - while the number of those in institutional quarantine shot up - from 5,615 to 6,524 on Monday.