With no signs of the coronavirus crisis easing in Maharashtra, two more persons died of the pandemic and the total number of infected people rose to 203 in the State on Sunday, even as Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced the start of 163 centres to house the fleeing migrant labourers and slashed the price of Government meal “Shiv Bhojan” from Rs 10 to Rs 5 per meal for the next three months.
While a 40-year-old woman died of Coronavirus at the KEM Hospital in Mumbai, a 45-year-old Covid-19 infected man died in Buldhana district. With the two latest deaths, the total number of the pandemic deaths mounted to eight in Maharashtra.
“The woman, who was a known case of hypertension and had severe respiratory distress at the time of admission to the KEM hospital, died on Saturday. She had complaints of breathlessness and chest pain since 3 to 4 days. She had tested positive for Coronavirus,” a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) statement said.
“The man who died at Buldhana had also tested positive for Coronavirus. He had diabetes,” a State Public Health Department’s medical bulletin said.
That the Coronavirus spread continues to be steady if not rapid could be evidenced from the fact that 22 more persons tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday, taking the total of infected people from 181 to 203.
Mumbai contributed to a maximum of 10 positive cases. The total number of cases in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), which includes the metropolis and neighbouring districts of Thane, Palghar and Raigad, has crossed 100 mark, which is almost half of the total number of positive cases in the state.
Pune, which in the initial days was recording a o large number of cases, reported five more infected cases taking the total to 37. Nagpur and Ahmednagar recorded three and two more cases respectively, while Sangli, Buldhana and Jalgaon reported one each case. Meanwhile, what has come as some relief in the midst of the continued spread of the pandemic is that as many as 35 Covid-19 infected patients have recovered and been discharged from various hospitals in the state.
In a related development, the Pandharpur temple management extended the closure of the famous Vithoba temple in western Maharashtra’s Solapur district from March 31 to April 14 and announced the cancellation of the annual Pandari Wari (pilgrimage) in which nearly 4 lakh people from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh participate. The devotees walk miles and miles all the way to the Virthobha temple, located on the banks of holy Chandrabhaga river.
Addressing the people across the state live through social media, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray once again appealed to the people to cooperate with the police and to stir out of their homes. “I request people to maintain patience and not to indulge in any untoward incident. Please do not force the government to take rigorous steps to control the situation”.
“At some place, we have started free meals for the needy people. We have decided to reduce the price of government meal Shiv Bhojan from Rs 10 to Rs 5 per meal,” he said.
“I am getting full cooperation from the Opposition. Even MNS chief Raj Thackeray gave me some suggestions on how handle the situation. I am in touch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and also Union Minister from Maharashtra Prakash Jawadekar,” the chief minister said. “Lots of migrant labourers settled in Maharashtra want to go back to their native places. But, I am asking them to stay back wherever they are. We have 163 centres to house the fleeing migrant labourers in the state. We are asking them to tell us whatever help they need so that we can extend the same,” Uddhav said.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has started a helpline and a disaster relief cell to help the Coronavirus-affected people. “People who need any essential things like food, medicines or any other help can call our helpline numbes and a congress worker will deliver all these things to the callers’ homes,” MPCC president and Maharashtra Minister Balasaheb Thorat said.
In another move, the Congress MLAs have decided to donate their one month’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, while the party MPs will donate their one month’s salary to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.