Maharashtra Braces Up After State Reports Highest Infections Since Outbreak Last Year| Key Developments

Pune reported the highest number of cases with 7,090 fresh cases and 37 deaths on Friday taking the the total number of active cases in the district to 53,008. Meanwhile, the capital city Mumbai recorded 5,515 cases on Friday.

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With the daily count of coronavirus cases in Maharasthra increasing, the state witnessed the highest infections of 35,952 in a day forcing the state government to impose night curfew from Sunday (March 28) to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

The week remained crucial for the state after it reported the highest daily spike since the pandemic broke out in 2020.

Here are key developments of the Maharashtra Covid-19 situation that took place this week:

Nine out of 10 districts in Maharasthra counts for the highest number of active cases in the country. Pune reported the highest number of cases with 7,090 fresh cases and 37 deaths on Friday with the total number of active cases in the district to 52,340, as per the public health department data. Meanwhile, the capital city Mumbai recorded 5,515 cases on Friday.

In fact, most districts in the last six days ended up reporting their highest single-day spike. Nashik on Friday recorded 4,099 new cases. Nagpur, which is under lockdown, reported its highest single-day with 4,095 new cases on Friday.

Nagpur, Nanded, Beed, Parbhani districts are already under lockdown. In fact, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also informed incase the situation in Pune doesn’t improve, then lockdown is possible.

In Mumbai, there are 43 active containment zones which include slums and chawls while 497 buildings have been sealed so far after patients were found there.

All authorities have been asked to "strictly enforce" the night curfew rules in Maharashtra to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The state government instructed people to celebrate Holi in a simple manner considering the rise in cases in Maharashtra and crowding should be avoided."The festival should be celebrated in a simple manner, observing social distancing norms and without coming together in any way given the increasing spread of COVID-19. Rang Panchami too should be celebrated in a simple manner," the government said in a statement.

As per the HT report, in the last six days, Mumbai reported 26,765 new infections and 57 deaths. On March 24, the state recorded 5,190 cases.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has instructed district administrations to impose night curfew from 8 pm to 7 am across the state. The state becomes the first one to impose any state-wide restriction almost a year since the nationwide lockdown was declared on March 25, 2020. Several districts in the state have announced restrictions. Other states have also announced district-specific restrictions.

Announcing the state-wide night curfew, Thackeray also warned of stricter restrictions if the people did not observe Covid-19 safety protocol. He also asked officials to ensure the availability of adequate hospital beds and medicines.

The state has also restricted celebrations on the occasion of Holi, Good Friday, Easter in the state.