Coronavirus: Government grants holidays but stay indoors else you can be jailed

Mumbai/Pune, March 13: A total of 17 Corona virus positive patients found in the state are kept in the isolated wards. Considering the safety of the health of the people of Maharashtra, the Epidemic Diseases Act has been invoked to tackle the epidemic diseases in the state. The gymnasium, theatres, cinema halls and swimming pools in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri- Chinchwad, Thane and Nagpur will be closed till the month end. As a part of precautionary measures, school and colleges in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, barring 10th and 12th examinations, will remain closed. People should not get panicked. They should take more precautions. This was stated by Chief Minister Mr Uddhav Thackeray in the state legislative assembly today.

Speaking at a Press Conference after the statement in the Legislative assembly, Mr Thackeray said that the Corona patients are found in the state but they are having mild symptoms. He said that 17 patients are found in the state, which includes three in Mumbai, one in Thane, 10 in Pune and three in Nagpur.

 Health Minister Rajesh Tope, Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad, minister of state Sanjay Bansode, principal secretary of health department Dr Pradeep Vyas, former health minister Dr Deepak Sawant were also present on the occasion. Speaking further, the Chief Minister said that out of the 17 Corona positive patients in the state, 15 have the history of travelling to Dubai, France and America. Four of them have been admitted to the Kasturba hospital in Mumbai and 10 at Naidu hospital in Pune. Three are quarantined at the government medical hospital at Nagpur.

He further said that all the district hospitals, municipal corporation hospitals, medical colleges are ready with the isolated wards. He said that the union government has instructed to Quarantine all the travellers returning from the seven countries including China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, France, Spain and Germany after 15th of February. He said that the patients found positive in the state have returned from America and Dubai and so we have demanded the union government to add these two destinations in the list of places from where the travelers returning are to be quarantined.

He further said that as a precautionary measure on the backdrop of Corona virus, the state government has invoked the Epidemic Disease Act 1897(2) from the midnight of Friday. He said that the hotels, restaurants, malls will not be closed. Similarly, railway and bus services are excluded from the shutdown as they are essential services. He said that the people should avoid crowds in the entire state. He said that institutions, organizations, professional and sports organizations which were given permission for conducting programs, had been cancelled and this programs will not be held till further orders.

Mr Thackeray said that the private sector company employees should be encouraged to work from the residences and such instructions are given to the administrators of private sector. The Chief Minister also said that the schools and colleges in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are going to be closed down. The examinations of 10th and 12th will however be as per schedule. He said that after taking the stock of classes from first to nine, the decision of the examinations will be taken.

Mr Thackeray said that there is need of various equipments in the laboratories and the state government had asked the union government to give permission for more laboratories. He said that a letter has also been written to the prime minister asking for providing more kits in the state. He said that the state government has taken all necessary precautions and mass awareness campaigns are undertaken in the entire state. The chief minister urged the people not to get panicked but come together and combat with this virus outbreak.

Know about Epidemic Diseases Act 1897

Section 2 : Power to take special measures and prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemic disease.—(1) When at any time the State Government is satisfied that the State or any part thereof is visited by, or threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease, the State Government, if it thinks that the ordinary provisions of the law for the time being in force are insufficient for the purpose, may take, or require or empower any person to take, such measures and, by public notice, prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by the public or by any person or class of persons as it shall deem necessary to prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof, and may determine in what manner and by whom any expenses incurred(including compensation if any) shall be defrayed.

 In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the State Government may take measures and prescribe regulations for – the inspection of persons travelling by railway or otherwise, and the segregation, in hospital, temporary accommodation or otherwise, of persons suspected by the inspecting officer of being infected with any such disease.

3. Penalty.—Any person disobeying any regulation or order made under this Act shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 188 which is  punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine.

4. Protection to persons acting under Act.—No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything done or in good faith intended to be done under this Act.

Now the order issued by state government authorities in Pune stated that teachers, students and other staffs of educational institutions, will face police action if they are found roaming around. Similar orders are being issued by other departments also.

Malls, hotels in metropolitan will remain open, theatres, cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools will be closed -Health Minister

The Act necessary for curbing the epidemics and effectively implementing the measures is being enforced in the state. Gymnasiums, cinema halls ,theaters, swimming pools will remain closed but essential services like Railway and buses will be as usual. Malls and hotels in Metropolitan will also remain open. People should stay away from crowding at various places. This appeal was made by health minister Mr Rajesh Tope here, today.

          Presently, there are 133 suspected patients admitted in various hospitals. Till 13th March one lakh 60 thousand 175 travellers have arrived at the international airports in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur by 1390 airbuses.

532 people have been admitted to various isolated wards in the state, since January 18. Out of them, the laboratory test reports of 441 were found negative and that of 17 were found positive. Presently, 18 people are quarantined in Pune, 35 in Mumbai, 18 at the Government Medical College in Nagpur, 9 at Government Medical College in Yavatmal and three suspected patients at the YCM hospital in Pimpri-Chinchwad are admitted to isolated wards. 818 passengers have arrived in Maharashtra till date.

Meanwhile, the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, will be invoked in the state from midnight of Friday in order to cope with the virus outbreak in the state. He said that the enforcement of this law doesn’t mean that epidemics has been declared in the entire state. Mr Tope said that this law is forced in the state as a part of precautionary measure so that it can be easy to effectively implement all possible measures for tackling the Corona menace. People should not get panicked, but should be cautious. He also appealed the people of the state to stay away from crowding at community programs. He said that though the malls and hotels will be  opened, people should not make unnecessary crowds at these places.