With over 16,000 cases reported within just 2 days, Pune is entering a new phase of lockdown to curb the infection rate. As per the latest announcement made by the authorities, the Maharashtrian city will have a 12-hour night curfew beginning from 6 pm tomorrow, in place for the next one week at least. A review will be done for the situation at the end of the week with the meeting slated for next Friday.
According to the Divisional Commissioner of Pune, Saurabh Rao, all religious places, bars, hotels, cinema halls and shopping malls will be shut for one week, starting tomorrow.
In the statement he gave today afternoon, he said during this period, only home deliveries of food, medicines and other important commodities will be allowed with dine-ins and takeaways closed.
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With 8,011 new cases emerging on Thursday, Pune is rising to become one of the worst-hit cities in India as the second wave of coronavirus has come into play. The figure reported yesterday was the second consecutive day when the city crossed the mark after Pune registered 8,605 cases on Wednesday- its biggest single-day spike.
A surge in cases mean the requirement of more hospital beds to suffice the incoming patients. As such, the Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol had ordered private hospitals to arrange for beds and reserve 80% of them for covid patients. On questions of a possible lockdown, the mayor said that there is “presently no serious need”, dismissing it.
However, he warned of stricter actions if the situation doesn’t get better. “Instead testing, tracing and vaccination drives have to be increased,” he said.
Sharing the same state as Pune, Mumbai is also witnessing a rapid increase in cases. The city saw its highest number of covid cases in a day- 8,646 on Thursday.
As such, the officials of Mumbai have brought up measures to slow the spread of the infection which is seeing a worrying spike. Random testing on people in public places including bus stations, malls, etc is being conducted as part of these measures. Authorities said this step was taken in view of the people violating rules, like not wearing masks or maintaining physical distance.
Both the cities are making efforts to solve the shortage of hospitals beds and technical equipment necessary to administer and treat covid patients.
“Cases are rising daily in Mumbai… this is a matter of concern. Due to the surge, a shortage of beds and ventilators is also being seen. We have been appealing to people since last March but they are showing carelessness,” Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar said while adding, “Nobody wants lockdown but… keeping in mind the manner in which cases are rising and creating pressure on health infrastructure… some strict measures will have to be taken.”
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Today morning’s data showed a registration of more than 43,000 in the last 24 hours in Maharashtra alone. In order to stop the graph from rapidly taking the upward trajectory, offices, halls and theatres will now operate with 50% occupancy.
Chief Minister of the state, Uddhav Thackeray is scheduled to address the region at 8.30 pm tonight.
As for India in general, the data received showed 81,466 new infections emerging in just 24 hours. This is the highest number reported since December 6, 2020.
According to Dr Randeep Guleria, Delhi AIIMS’s Director, the worsening situation in the country is a result of a mutant strain of coronavirus.
