Total count of Coronavirus in Maharashtra is at 215, 8 new cases reported

The coronavirus count in Maharashtra has climbed to 215, With 12 fresh cases reported today,  the state health ministry confirmed. Five people were tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Pune today. Three in Mumbai were diagnosed positive with COVID-19 infection.

Two fresh deaths were recorded in the state, taking the toll in Maharashtra to eight.Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry Lav Agrawal said “There have been six deaths in the past 24 hours, . The state is the worst affected by the COVID-19 infection that claimed over 30,000 lives worldwide”.

Health minister Rajesh Tope said that “the 215 coronavirus positive patients in Maharashtra, 88 are from Mumbai and 42 from Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and rural area. So far, a total of 35 COVID-19 patients in the state have recovered from the disease.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the country crossed 1000-mark on Sunday. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said testing for new cases has been stepped up to 30% of the nation’s capacity. The ICMR continues to maintain that there are no instances of community transmission”.

India is currently under a 21-day nationwide lockdown to prevent the further spread of the COVID-19. The Centre on Sunday asked the state governments to seal all the state and district borders to check migrant movement. All the states and union territories were asked to take immediate relief measures to provide temporary accommodation, food, clothing and medical care to homeless people, including migrant workers stranded due to the lockdown.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that “his government will take care of all migrant labourers in the state. Maharashtra government built 163 centres across the state to provide shelters to the homeless migrant workers. Thackeray once again urged the citizens to maintain social distancing. People should not venture out on streets without a strong reason, said Maharashtra chief minister. “We need to take extra care of senior citizens, children and pregnant women as they are more vulnerable to coronavirus,”.

Maharashtra government earlier decided to allow to shops to remain open for 24/7 to avoid over crowding in the wake of coronavirus outbreak in the state.