Coronavirus: Government orders closure of theatres, gyms, auditoriums, swimming pools

Pune, March 13, 2020: In the backdrop of the rising number of Coronavirus, the Maharashtra Government today announced the closure of theatres, gyms, auditoriums, swimming pools in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Nagpur. The total number of positive cases has increased to 17, Chief Minister Udhav Thackeray said in a press conference.

He has also announced the closure of schools in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The review of the order is expected by March 30. The schools have been asked to postpone exams (except 10th and 12th board exams).

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.

Everyday Coronavirus cases are increasing in Pune. Today the number of COVID-19 positive has reached 10, said Pune Divisional Commissioner Dr Deepak Mhaisekar.

He addressed a press conference in this regard. District Collector Naval Kishor Ram was also present on the occasion.

According to the officials, the tenth case is of youth aged about 22 years and he returned from the United States of America (USA) on March 7. After he had some health issues, he visited a doctor and later his sample was taken and its test turned out to be positive. He is the second person who has returned from the USA, to have tested positive for Coronavirus. The others have a history of visiting Dubai, while one is a driver who ferried a couple from Mumbai to Pune.

All the patients are admitted in Naidu Hospital, Pune, and YCM Hospital, Pimpri.

Today, the flight from Dubai to Pune landed here with 124 passengers. All of them were screened and nothing suspicious was detected. However, a woman with her infant son complained of cough. She is admitted to Naidu Hospital for observation.

Meanwhile, the FDA and Legal Metrology Department have begun a crackdown on medical stores indulging hoarding of masks, hand sanitizers etc which are being used to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. Action has been taken against four shops for selling masks at exorbitant prices.