COVID Crisis In Maharashtra As Lockdown-like Curbs Return: Know All That's Happening In State

Maharashtra logged more than 5000 cases on Thursday -- a new high after a gap of 75 days. Mumbai recorded more than 700 cases for a second straight day. This came a day after the state recorded 40 deaths a gap of over two months, pushing the authorities to issue fresh restrictions.

Fresh restrictions announced

While a 10-day lockdown was announced in Yavatmal, a weekend lockdown was imposed in Amravati. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) also released a set of fresh Covid-19 guidelines for capital Mumbai. Both Amravati and Yavatmal fall in Vidarbha, a region which has been reporting a steady rise in Covid-19 cases since the start of February.

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Mumbai

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday issued fresh Covid-19 guidelines for Mumbai as the city witnesses a renewed surge in virus cases.

The civic body has intensified action against people found without masks in public and will take action against function halls, gymnasiums and other establishments that don't follow safety norms. The permissible limit of guests at function halls is 50, while restaurants are allowed to operate with 50 per cent occupancy at any given time.

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BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal ordered the deployment of additional marshals on suburban trains and also directed to ramp up testing in high positivity areas.

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The civic body has decided to resume stamping of the hands of people who are placed under home quarantine, and in case of violation, an offence will be registered against them. Similar action will be taken against those who flout the rules at weddings and other social gatherings in the city and BMC teams will raid event venues.

Apart from this, the civic body said a seven-day institutional quarantine is mandatory for travellers arriving at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport from Brazil, where a new strain of the virus has been found. Buildings with more than five Covid-19 patients will be sealed, the BMC has decided.

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Moreover, teachers from BMC schools will be deployed at all buildings, offices and hospitals managed by the civic body with powers to take punitive action against those roaming without masks.

Yavatmal

The administration in Yavatmal district ordered curbs on gatherings and also the closure of schools (which had reopened for select classes) for ten days.

Schools (for students from Classes 5 to 9), colleges, and coaching classes in Yavatmal district will remain closed till February 28, while only 50 persons will be permitted at weddings, Yavatmal collector DM Singh said. Religious places will remain open but Covid-19 protocols will be strictly implemented, he said.

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Hotels and restaurants will be allowed to operate between 8 am to 9.30 pm, while markets and shops will remain open till 8 pm, Singh said.

Amravati

Likewise, a weekend lockdown was announced in Amravati district, from 8 pm on Saturday to 7 am on Monday, a period during which markets and other establishments will remain shut, but essential services will remain unaffected.

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Amravati Collector Shailesh Naval said on weekdays, all establishments in the district, including hotels and restaurants would stay open only till 8 pm (from earlier 10 pm). Naval said during the weekend lockdown all markets and other establishments will remain shut.

"Swimming pools and indoor games, too, will remain closed, while only five people will be allowed at religious ceremonies," Naval said.

Many Maha ministers, leaders test positive

A number of the state's political leaders and ministers, including the health in-charge, Rajesh Tope, have declared that they have tested positive for the disease. Others include Jayant Patil, Raksha Khadse, Eknath Khadse, Bacchu Kadu, and Rajendra Shingne. Rajesh Tope even took to Twitter late Thursday to inform that he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

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Covid mutation found in Maha districts

Several cases of coronavirus mutation have been observed in Maharashtra, a senior scientist told NDTV today, underscoring that they are yet to observe behaviour - including how fast or slow it infects people -- and pointed out that it is "too early to call it a strain".

Dr TP Lahane, the Director of Medical Education and Research, Maharashtra, told NDTV that it is early days yet and more sequencing and study needs to be carried out to know about the "infectiveness" of the mutant variety. The scientists, he said, are doing gene sequencing for this and the results will be available in 10 to 15 days. A detailed study has to be conducted, he said.

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The mutations are detected as Maharashtra - which saw the maximum number of Covid cases and deaths in the country - is witnessing a surge in cases after a two-month lull. Maharashtra reported a jump of 5,427 cases on Thursday and Mumbai reported 736 cases. Amravati and Yavatmal have been placed under restrictions.