Coronavirus: As Mumbai & Pune Go Into Lockdown, Delhi Government Orders Closure Of Malls

As coronavirus cases continue to grow in India, state governments across the country have stepped up the efforts to contain the spread of virus.

AP

The total number of cases at the time of writing this stand at 195. In a bid to ensure there is that the population is protected from the deadly COVID-19, states have swiftly moved to shut schools, colleges, offices, mall, and ban public gatherings.

New measures are being taken each day to get things under control.

Here are the latest developments:

Delhi government orders malls to be closed

In view of growing number of coronavirus cases in the national capital, the Delhi government has announced the closure of all mall in the city.

¡°In view of the prevailing situation, we are closing down all malls (except grocery, pharmacy and vegetable shops in them),¡± Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announced.

¡°Met all HODs & Secretaries. All non-essential public dealing activities stopped till 31 Mar. Only essential public dealing activities will continue. All non-essential staff are being directed to work from home. All permanent and contractual employees will be paid for this period,¡± Kejriwal tweeted.

Met all HODs & Secretaries. All non-essential public dealing activities stopped till 31 Mar. Only essential public dealing activities will continue. All non-essential staff are being directed to work from home. All permanent and contractual employees will be paid for this period pic.twitter.com/F9AoCPvwL6

¡ª Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 20, 2020

Earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi issued an advisory to private sector employers to allow their employees to work from home till March 31 in a bid to tackle the spread of the Covid-19 disease.

Mumbai and Pune in lockdown

Maharashtra has the most number of coronavirus cases in India, and that has forced the state government's hand to lockdown the cities of Mumbai and Pune.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray: In Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nagpur - which have international airports, all shops (other than essentials) and offices to remain closed till 31st March, 2020. #COVID19 (file pic) pic.twitter.com/kJdgt4cm0n

¡ª ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2020

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has urged the people of the state not to step out of their homes unnecessarily, to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. He also announced that from midnight, all workplaces will remain closed till 31 March. This is applicable in Mumbai, MMR Region, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Nagpur.

The schools, colleges and malls have already been shut for indefinite period. The state has reported 52 cases so far, with at least five patients recovering from the virus.