A healthcare worker takes samples during the Covid-19 pandemic in Mankhud, Mumbai on July 29, 2020. (Express Photo: Amit Chakravarty)
Maharashtra, Mumbai, Thane Coronavirus Live Updates: Maharashtra Thursday reported its highest single-day spike of 11,147 COVID-19 cases, taking the overall tally to 4,11,798. The state’s death toll increased by 266 to 14,729.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray Thursday reviewed the COVID-19 situation in Pune district, which has recorded more than 78,000 cases so far and seen a spurt in infections in recent weeks. He chaired a meeting of elected representatives, including MP and MLAs, and took stock of the COVID-19 situation and the local administration’s response to the pandemic so far.
On the day Maharashtra reported over 4 lakh cases of the novel coronavirus, the state government Wednesday extended the lockdown till August 31. Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar said the state remains “threatened with the spread of Covid-19”, adding that restrictions would be eased in a “phase wise manner with SOPs”.
Under the new guidelines announced by the state, malls and market complexes will be allowed to function from 9 am to 7 pm. However, theatres, food courts and restaurants will remain closed. Further, the night curfew will remain in place in the state despite the Centre doing away with it.
Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has said given the size of India’s population, herd immunity “cannot be a strategic choice or option”, and urged people to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour till a vaccine is developed. The ministry also informed that phase 1 and 2 human clinical trials of two indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine candidates have started.
Maharashtra, Mumbai, Pune Coronavirus Live Updates: At a Covid-19 testing center in Mankhurd on Tuesday. (Express Photo: Amit Chakravarty)
A delegation of the Maharashtra Youth Congress on Thursday met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to demand cancellation of the final year university examinations in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
While the state government has cancelled the examinations, the University Grants Commission (UGC) had earlier this month issued a circular asking all the universities across the country to wrap up the final term exams before September 30.
The delegation raised several points with regard to the pandemic and the safety of students, their families, teaching fraternity, non-teaching staff, the Youth Congress said in a statement.
They demanded that the semester results should be calculated using an agreed-upon formula, which assigns aggregate marks to students based on their performance in previous semesters.
"It is imperative that this should be a uniform process announced by the UGC to be followed by every university and college in India to avoid lapses," it said. Exam fees have been collected by most institutions, which must be refunded. The universities should not charge fees for the current semester or the upcoming one if there is no clarity on the pandemic and re-opening of colleges and next set of examinations, the Youth Congress said. "Students from less affluent and middle-class families are facing extreme financial difficulties as a result of the extended lockdown, which makes it imperative for the authorities to grant them relief in the form of a fee waiver," the delegation said. The marksheets given must be a normal one without any mention like 'given during COVID-19' or 'based on average marks' as it may hamper the students for lifetime.
Similarly, ATKTs (allowed to keep terms) and backlogs should be promoted to the next year in view of the current pandemic. There are many students affiliated with a college or university who are working on ground or assisting the concerned authority to tackle COVID-19 situation. These students can get the payment through 'earn and learn' scheme for their works. This will prompt more students to come out and work during the pandemic for society, it said in the memorandum.
Due to COVID-19, researchers registered under the state universities are not getting stipends or fellowships. This is the biggest hurdle in the research work. The university should pay the fellowship, it said. The Shiv Sena's youth wing Yuva Sena has already moved the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of the final year exams of universities across states in view of the COVID-19 crisis. The apex court had on Monday directed the UGC to respond to the petitions which have challenged its circular.
Maharashtra reports highest single-day spike of 11,147 COVID-19 cases, tally rises to 4,11,798; death toll up by 266 to 14,729.
A delegation of the Maharashtra Youth Congress on Thursday met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to demand cancellation of the final year university examinations in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
The delegation raised several points with regard to the pandemic and the safety of students, their families, teaching fraternity, non-teaching staff, the Youth Congress said in a statement.
They demanded that the semester results should be calculated using an agreed-upon formula, which assigns aggregate marks to students based on their performance in previous semesters.
"It is imperative that this should be a uniform process announced by the UGC to be followed by every university and college in India to avoid lapses," it said. (PTI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday reviewed the COVID-19 situation in Pune district, which has recorded more than 78,000 cases so far and seen a spurt in infections in recent weeks.
He chaired a meeting of elected representatives, including MP and MLAs, and took stock of the COVID-19 situation and the local administration's response to the pandemic so far. At the meeting, elected representatives put forth their views on the situation and suggested steps to curb the spread of the viral disease which has killed more than 1,800 people so far in the district.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray, ministers Dilip Walse-Patil, Dattatray Bharne, Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol, Kothrud MLA and state BJP president Chandrakant Patil and other elected members from Pune and neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad were present at the meeting. (PTI)
Dharavi, Mumbai's biggest slum sprawl, reported six new coronavirus cases on Thursday, which took its overall count to 2,551, a civic official said. The number of active COVID-19 cases from the area has gone down to 80, the senior official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.
As many as 2,220 patients have already recovered from the infection and were discharged from hospitals, he said. The civic body has, however, stopped disclosing COVID-19 deaths, if any, since last month. (PTI)
An MLA from Maharashtra's Nanded district tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, a government official said. The legislator had developed COVID-19 symptoms two days back and his swab sample had been collected, said the district official. He was shifted to Mumbai for further treatment.
State Public Works Department Minister Ashok Chavan who hails from Nanded district had contracted the virus earlier. He recovered from the infection. (PTI)
Hundreds of trucks carrying goats for the ritual of sacrifice on Bakrid are stranded at Mumbai's entry points as they are not allowed to sell the animals in public, resulting in many animals dying of starvation.
Animal traders have now demanded a compensation from the Maharashtra government for the losses suffered by them.
On July 15, Maharashtra minister Aslam Shaikh said the state government will set up an online mechanism for the sale and purchase of goats for the upcoming Bakrid festival and no permission will be given for celebration in coronavirus containment zones.
Gathering of people for 'qurbani' (sacrifice) of goats will not be allowed and markets will be allowed only on open grounds, the Mumbai city guardian minister said, adding that big markets like Deonar will not be permitted this time. (PTI)
Amid coronavirus layoffs and job losses, it is not only banks that have received requests to provide relief on loans payments. Family court lawyers in Mumbai are seeking the court’s intervention for waiver or reduction in payment of maintenance to separated wives and children. Read Mayura Janwalkar's report
Here are some pictures of a swab testing camp to detect Covid-19 patients at Mankhud in Mumbai on July 29, 2020. (Express Photo: Amit Chakravarty)
A serological survey conducted on 6,936 people in three wards Mumbai found 40.5 per cent of them were exposed to SARS-CoV-2, a virus that causes Covid-19, and had developed IgG antibodies against it. The study was conducted in three wards of 8,800 people: Matunga (F-North ward) that had the highest growth rate and caseload, and proximity to Dharavi, the city’s biggest slum that had become a hotspot in April. It also selected Chembur (M-West ward) for medium growth rate in Covid-19 cases and Dahisar (R-north) that had the lowest growth rate in the city. Eventually, 6,936 people agreed to give their samples — 4,234 from slums and 2,702 from non-slums. Tabassum Barnagarwala explains the findings
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revised the protocol to seal buildings where one or more residents are detected with Covid-19. As per the amended protocol, the civic body will now seal a building completely only if more than three positive cases were reported.
“If three or more Covid-19 cases are reported from a building, then the civic body will seal a building completely. If fewer than three cases are reported, then civic officials will only seal a particular floor of the building and no restriction will be imposed on the movement of other residents,” a senior official from R South ward said. Read Laxman Singh's report
Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday detected more than 10,000 new cases of the novel coronavirus. This was the first time since mid-March that any state reported more cases than Maharashtra on any day. Maharashtra found 9,211 new cases on Wednesday. This was also only the second time that any state had reported more than 10,000 positive cases in a single day. On July 22, Maharashtra had detected over 10,500 new cases. Amitabh Sinha explains the numbers
A 42-year-old was arrested in Mumbai on Wednesday for selling low-quality face masks as N95 ones. The Mumbai Crime Branch seized masks worth Rs 29 lakh from Safdar Momin. Assistant Police Inspector, Mumbai crime branch (Unit III) Nitin Patil said they received a tip-off that Momin, who runs a textile business in Bhiwandi, had been selling low-quality masks to a godown in Lower Parel. The accused had claimed that the masks had been produced by Venus company – the company produces high-quality masks that are used by hospitals. Read more here
Maharashtra reported 9,211 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, taking its tally to 4,00,651. With 298 deaths, the toll in the state rose to 14,463. There are 1.46,129 people being treated for the disease. More than 20 lakh people have been tested so far. Mumbai, meanwhile, reported 1,109 cases on the same day, taking its total to 1,11,991. The city registered 60 deaths, taking the toll to 6,247.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will Thursday visit Pune to take stock of the coronavirus situation in the district, officials said. This will be Thackeray's first visit to Pune ever since the outbreak of the disease. "The Chief Minister will visit Pune and take a review of the district's Covid-19 response," an official from the district administration said. Pune has reported over 74,000 cases and 1,792 deaths.
Welcome to our live blog of the coronavirus outbreak in Maharashtra. The state on Wednesday extended the lockdown imposed to control the spread of the infection till August 31. The government said the state remains “threatened with the spread of Covid-19”. Follow our live blog for the latest news and updates from the Mumbai, Pune, Thane and other cities.