COVID – 19: Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad extends lockdown from July 13 to July 23

Maharashtra: With increasing COVID-19 infection, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and adjacent districts of Maharashtra will be locked down for 10 days from July 13 to July 23, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Ajit Pawar, declared on Friday.

“Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and the adjacent rural areas have witnessed an increasing number of corona cases. Considering the seriousness of this situation, lockdown will be imposed in these areas from July 13 to prevent further spread,” Pawar said.

On Thursday, Pune recorded its highest single – day surge of 1,803 new COVID-19 cases, which pushed its total to 34,399, a health official said. Pune is the second most affected city in the state.

“Of the 1,803 cases, as many as 1,032 were recorded in the areas located in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), where the number of patients has reached 24,977; while Pimpri-Chinchwad has recorded 573 new cases, taking its total to 6,982,” he added.

Deepak Mhaisekar, Divisional Commissioner of Pune, announced that strict lockdown measures will be implemented in Pune city, Pimpri Chinchwad, Cantonments and some surrounding villages due to rising number of COVID – 19 infection.

Mhaisekar said, “Only milk supply, medical store and the hospital will be allowed to open and all other shops will be closed till July 18. After that other essential services will be allowed. Therefore, people should buy essential things. The strict lockdown will start from the midnight of Monday (July 13). It will continue till midnight of July 23. Further decision will be taken after taking a review of the 10 days.”