Hopes were raised in Maharashtra of Covid-19 curve 'flattening' as deaths and new cases continued to decline for the past one week, bolstered by an improved recovery rate, health officials said here on Saturday.

The state witnessed just 137 deaths - compared with the peak of 515 (Sep. 15), but higher than 125 recorded on Oct. 19 - and the state fatalities shot up from 43,015 to 43,152 now.