Ramdas Athawale's security guard tests positive, Maharashtra locks up over 13,000 lockdown violators

As coronavirus lockdown entered Day 29, the Union ministry exempted education bookshops, fan shops from lockdown. A security guard posted at the residence of Union minister Ramdas Athawale tested positive as Mumbai saw 232 fresh cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. All pics: Bipin Kokate, Ashish Rane, Sameer Abedi, Atul Kamble, Satej Shinde

Updated On: 2020-04-22 10:07 PM IST

The number of fresh Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra continues to surge relentlessly with 431 cases reported in the state on Wednesday, taking cumulative tally to 5649. Also, 18 deaths were reported taking the death toll to 269.

Out of 269 fatalties, 10 deaths were reported from Mumbai, while two deaths were reported from Pune and Aurangabad districts each. India became the world’s 17th country to cross the 20,000-mark. The disease has left over 652 dead so far in the country.

The government passed an ordinance to protect India's frontline workers. Any violence against health workers will now be treated as a non-bailable offence, which can lead to 7 years in jail and invite a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh.

In picture: Fire brigade officals sanitise the road at Teenbatti in South Mumbai's Walkeshwar area amid Coronavirus pandemic.

Dharavi reported nine new cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases in the area to 189 so far including 12 deaths.

In what appears to be a blatant violation of rules, activities like picnics on the periphery of Vihar lake are not only unaffected during the lockdown, some locals claim they have increased.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be speaking to chief ministers of all states on April 27 about the national lockdown and the coronavirus situation in the country.

A security guard posted at the residence of Union minister Ramdas Athawale tested coronavirus positive, an RPI (A) party functionary said on Wednesday. Ramdas Athawale's 'Go corona' slogan had become viral on social media

Amarnath Yatra has been canceled due to the coronavirus crisis. The decision was taken at the 38th Board Meeting presided over by Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu, Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB).

Amid the daily increase in the number of coronavirus cases and a high mortality rate, recovery of a 92-year-old woman from COVID-19 has brought some cheer for Pune. What makes the recovery of the woman, resident of Kondhwa area, even more remarkable is that she had suffered a paralysis attack seven months ago.

A municipal worker sprays disinfectant in an alley in Pratiksha Nagar in Sion, where a patient had tested positive for the virus during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus 

Railways has offered to supply 2.6 lakh meals daily from its various kitchens to all those districts which are willing to pick up cooked meals and distribute among the needy, the ministry said on Wednesday.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said the inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) that arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday for a two-day visit to assess the State’s preparedness to fight the coronavirus outbreak has recommended an increase in the capacity of quarantine facility in Mumbai from 1,200 beds to 2,000, in light of the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the city.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issues advisory to print and electronic media, asks media persons covering Covid-19-related incidents to take precautions.

A total of 64 police personnel in Maharashtra have been found coronavirus positive till now, the state police said.

17 tonnes muskmelon went to waste in Borivli after the Dahisar market refused to collect them. 

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called off its proposed 'White Alert' and 'Black Day' protests scheduled on April 22 and 23 following a meeting with Home Minister, Amit Shah through video conference on Wednesday.

The number of containment zones in Mumbai has increased by over 90 since the weekend. The city now has 817 containment zones.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry has extended relaxation to several agriculture and commercial industries from the lockdown restrictions. In the commercial sector, shops selling textbooks and establishments selling electric fans can also operate.

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