A health professional collects sample for covid-19 test in Delhi, Image credit: PTI
After reporting 6000 new coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day on Saturday, the Maharashtra government has informed that Amravati in Maharashtra will be placed under complete lockdown for a week starting from Monday evening. The move follows the weekend lockdown imposed by authorities, starting from 8 pm on Saturday to 7 am on Monday.
"One-week complete lockdown in remain in force in Amravati district excluding Achalpur city, beginning 8 pm tomorrow," informed Cabinet Minister Yashomati Thakur while adding that essential services would be permitted. The lockdown will continue till 8 pm on February 28. "The lockdown will be extended if people do not follow safety rules," the minister warned.
Covid-19 cases in the state touched 6000 after three months on Friday and then again on Saturday. Amravati recorded 894 new cases, the second-highest in the state after Mumbai, which recorded 897 cases. The two districts together accord for about 27 per cent of the total positive cases. The caseload increased to 20,93,913, and the death toll rose to 51,753, with 40 new fatalities recorded.
"The coronavirus cases are increasing on a daily basis in several districts of Maharashtra. Due to this, an order to enforce the coronavirus norms has been given to all district magistrates. They have also have been authorised to take decisions in view of the pandemic situation," said State Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar.
Various measures have been introduced in different districts. While restrictions like during the time of mid-September covid-peak were introduced in the other four districts of Amravati division, Pune imposed night curfew on Saturday from 11 pm to 6 am. The government is also allegedly considering night curfew in other districts. Schools and colleges have been declared closed till 28th as well.
However, the government confirmed on February 19 that no mutant strains of coronavirus found in the UK, South Africa and Brazil were detected in the state.