Four Cities Of Maharashtra Go Into Lockdown To Combat Coronavirus

Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad has recorded the maximum cases of Coronavirus. The total number of coronavirus cases reached 52 on Friday with three more persons testing positive, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope informed. They include one patient each in Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, all of them having a history returning from foreign countries.

Mumbai: People wearing a protective masks in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, sit outside closed shops at Fashion Street, in Mumbai. PIC/PTI

Mumbai: In a major decision, Maharashtra government on Friday ordered its residents from Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Nagpur to stay at home till March 31 unless required to make essential trips, becoming the first Indian state to implement such extreme measures in various cities in a bid to contain the rapidly expanding coronavirus outbreak.

" CM Uddhav Thackeray announces that from this Midnight, all workplaces will remain closed till 31st March. This is applicable in Mumbai, MMR Region, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Nagpur. Govt offices to operate at 25% attendance. "

-Aaditya Thackeray

Reports say only banks, grocery stores and medical shops, clinics and hospitals will remain open. CM Uddhav Thackeray said trains, buses will operate; shutting down public transport in Mumbai will be last resort. He slashed attendance in government offices to 25 per cent, while all examinations from Class I to VIII stand he announced will stand cancelled.

" Essential services shall operate, any other services important to operate, the collectors shall specify from time to time. Groceries, milk and other day to day items shall be available. Citizens are required to reduce unnecessary movement. Let’s win this #WarAgainstVirus "

-Aaditya Thackeray

Mumbai, which is one of the world's most densely populated cities, has seen a partial lockdown in the last few days and is resembling a ghost town. Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad has recorded the maximum cases of Coronavirus. The total number of coronavirus cases reached 52 on Friday with three more persons testing positive, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope informed. They include one patient each in Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, all of them having a history returning from foreign countries. The number of active cases is the most in Maharashtra. Tope urged people to refrain from stepping out of their homes as 'isolation' was the key to battling the COVID-19 virus. Tope added that the state has completely banned all flights from worst-hit 12 countries besides exercising extreme precautions for flights from all other nations at the three international airports in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur since the past over a month, reported IANS. Tope advised people to respond to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call and observe the 'Janata curfew' on Sunday by remaining indoors.