Mumbai: With as many as twenty-five Coronavirus deaths reported in Maharashtra in last 24 hours, it still remains to be the worse-hit state of the country witnessing the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the state administration, as many as 229 new cases were reported on Thursday in the state, taking the numbers to 1,364. This is so far the highest rise in number of Coronavirus patients in a single day.

Of the 25 deaths, reports confirm that 14 were recorded in Pune, nine in Mumbai and one each in Malegaon and Ratnagiri. The overall death toll in the state has reached to 97 so far.

On Wednesday, the state administration made wearing of facial masks compulsory for Mumbai and Pune metropolitan regions with immediate effect until further orders to check the spread of Covid-19 in these two worst hotspots in the country.

The BMC plans to set up institutional quarantine facilities for more than 11,000 people in 24 wards in Mumbai, the worst-hit by Covid-19 in the country so far.

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According to a data, over 80 cent of the Corinavirus cases in Maharashtra were detected in the first eight days of April.

The police and health authorities have tightened the lockdown in Dharavi, Asia's biggest slum amid growing fears of Coronavirus spreading in Mumbai, officials said on Thursday.

At least 10 localities in the 2.25 sq. kms area have been red-flagged and all movement of people stopped, all shops and establishments, fruit/vegetable markets or vendors, hawkers, etc, have been shut down, barring pharmacies.


To minimise peoples' unrest in the area, BMC plans to come up with a scheme for doorstep delivery of essentials shortly. Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad, who represents Dharavi constituency, along with Health Minister Rajesh Tope visited hospitals and quarantine centres in her constituency on Wednesday for a spot assessment of the situation.

Dharavi -- the most congested place on the planet -- has over 200,000 families living and working here, besides more than 20,000 big and small businesses generating revenues of an estimated Rs 7,000 crore annually.

Considered a ticking time-bomb in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dharavi has recorded two deaths and at least another 13 positive patients till date, sparking alarm among the civic and state health authorities struggling to contain the further spread of the coronavirus in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra.

(With inputs from agencies)