Twelve COVID-19 deaths and 150 new cases were reported across the State in a single day on Tuesday — 100 of them from Mumbai alone — as the cumulative tally of novel coronavirus positive cases rose to 1,018 and the death toll to 64.
Mumbai recorded six deaths, while Pune reported three. Nagpur reported its first death — a 68-year-old patient with diabetes — as did Satara district, where a 63-year-old man who had returned last month from California passed away on Monday. Among those who died was a 60-year-old man from Mira-Bhayander.
State Helpline numbers | State-wise tracker | A map of confirmed cases in India
All three deaths in Pune, reported on Tuesday morning from Sassoon Hospital, were of senior citizens who suffered from co-morbidities like diabetes and high blood pressure, said Pune District Collector Naval Kishore Ram. None of them had a history of foreign travel.
The latest surge of 150 new cases exceeded Monday’s spike of 120. A total 79 persons have been discharged so far, said authorities.
40 deaths in Mumbai
Mumbai alone now accounts for 642 positive cases and 40 of the 64 deaths. The number in Pune district has now exceeded 150 positive cases, prompting authorities to completely seal off the eastern part of the city.
More stringent lockdown measures were taken by the Pune Police authorities to rein in the spread of COVID-19 in five clusters in the city that have been identified as ‘high-risk’ zones.
A health camp under way in Dharavi.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ravindra Shisve issued an order under Section 144 (1) (3) of the CrPC, which now prohibits any movement in the sealed areas. Shops selling essential commodities like milk, vegetables, groceries would remain open only for a couple of hours — from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. — in these areas, Mr. Shisve said.
The tally for Pune Division — which encompasses Pune, Satara, Sangli Kolhapur and Solapur districts — now stands at 191 cases, with Pune district recording 157 of these cases, Divisional Commissioner Dr. Deepak Mhaisekar said
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Fresh cases in Baramati
Alarmingly, fresh cases were reported from Baramati in rural Pune after a vegetable vendor who tested positive also infected his close relatives. This led the Pune Rural Police to seal off parts of the area.
“Over the last three days, Pune has reported 50 new cases, a significant number of which are concentrated in the eastern part of the city. Hence, we have sealed the old Pune ‘Peth’ areas, Maharshi Nagar, the stretch between RTO and Gultekdi and other areas like Kondhwa,” Mr. Mohol said.
With the Naidu Infectious Diseases Hospital operating at full capacity, Mr. Mohol said that new cases were being shifted to Bopodi’s Khedekar General Hospital and that if the need arose, a 500-bed facility at the Symbiosis University Hospital at Lavale dedicated to accommodating COVID-19 patients was available at the Pune civic body’s disposal.
Meanwhile, affording some relief, the test samples of 42 doctors and other medical personnel of a medical college and hospital in Pimpri have returned negative.
They had been placed in quarantine after an autorickshaw driver who was undergoing treatment at that hospital for accident injuries, had tested positive for COVID-19 on April 4.
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One more in Sangli
In western Maharashtra, the fresh case recorded from Sangli is said to be that of a person who came in contact with members of a family in Islampur tehsil, of whom 24 previously tested positive. Last week, four members of this family had recovered from the virus after their repeat samples have tested negative.
In Ahmednagar, at least four foreign nationals, including those who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat conclave, have tested positive. Buldhana is fast emerging as a virus hotspot in the State’s rural hinterland, recording two fresh cases to reach seven total COVID-19 cases, while Ahmednagar’s tally has shot to 25.
In the Marathwada region, Aurangabad has emerged as a major virus hotspot, with three new cases being recorded on Tuesday after a period of relative calm last month. This has taken the district’s tally to 12 cases.
At least 20 of the 1,300-odd people who had attended the Nizamuddin Tablighi Jamaat conclave have tested positive so far, according to health officials.
