Maha cases rise, Surat on the edge

Surat: In the start of the second wave of the pandemic, Surat health officials claimed that the rise in cases in Maharashtra pushed rate of infection higher in the Diamond City.
Meanwhile, when the neighbouring state is imposing fresh restrictions owing to resurge in Covid cases, top civic officials in Surat city claim that no positive cases have been detected among migrant workers from Maharashtra.
On an average, thousands of Maharashtra residents commute to the city daily from their native places through buses and private vehicles for various work. Surat has an estimated four lakh Maharashtrian migrant population and owing to its proximity to the Maximum City, travelling between the two states for social and cultural reasons take place frequently.
In Maharashtra, curfew was relaxed to 9pm in various districts, which has been tightened by five hours once again from 4pm to 7am. “The relaxation time has been reduced. Earlier, the curfew started after 9pm but from Monday the curfew will start from 4pm,” said Mukesh Survyavanshi, a resident of Jalgaon. Suryavanshi claimed that the number of daily cases has now increased to 25 compared to 13 to 15 a week ago.
In Buldhana district, Saturday and Sunday are total lockdowns. “Due to rise in cases again the curfew timings have been increased and on weekends it remains completely closed. Due to the restrictions, finding transportation from between Surat and Buldhana is challenging,” said Tanaji Jhagde, a Dindoli resident.
Sunita Vasekar, a resident of the bordering district of Nandurbar, said, “Due to the revised timing we have to finish routine work before that time. The administration is strictly enforcing curfew again.”
When TOI visited Saroli, one of the main entry points for vehicles coming from Maharashtra, all Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) staff were, however, seen relaxed and chatting inside the testing dome without wearing their uniforms. At these centres along with the health team SMC’s security marshals are also deployed to stop outside vehicles and get visitors checked.
“There is no rise in positive cases among migrant workers from Maharashtra, who are being tested in the textile market. We are keeping close watch on developments in the neighbouring state,” said officials.
Health officials in Valsad claimed that they have discontinued testing at the entry point while at the border entry point in Dang, health officials are conducting random tests.