Coronavirus in Pune: Lockdown in Mumbai, Pune May Extend till June?

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Mumbai, April 25, 2020: Despite the central government’s extended lockdown till May 3, the Pune and Mumbai metropolitan areas are unlikely to be relieved, The Economic Times, an English language newspaper, quoted government sources as saying.

As the number of new Coronavirus positive patients continues to rise in the Pune and Mumbai metropolitan areas, the chances of recovery after May 3 are slim. According to some government officials, the lockdown in Mumbai and Pune metropolitan areas could continue into June.

The economic and industrial sector of the state is concentrated in the Mumbai and Pune metropolitan areas. That is why the government has made it a priority to revive the economy by easing the lockdown in Mumbai-Pune, but the growing number of COVID19 patients is adding to the government’s worries.

Apart from malls and shopping complexes across the country, the Center has approved to open small shops with certain conditions. It will be implemented as per the circular of the state government. Salons, restaurants, wine shops will not be allowed to open even now.

The state government wants to fight on the economic front against Coronavirus. However, due to the concentration of the economic sector in the Pune-Mumbai belt and the highest incidence of Coronavirus positive cases in the same area, the state government is facing a double dilemma.

According to the data released by the state government yesterday, the number of corona victims in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation area was 4447, while in the entire Mumbai metropolitan area, the number is more than five thousand. There are 980 patients in Pune alone and up to 1128 in the Pune district today.

There are 983 containment zones in Mumbai. Most of these containment zones are in slum areas. Therefore, according to government sources, Mumbai-Pune is less likely to get relief from the lockdown. It is said that the central team that came to inspect the Mumbai-Pune coronavirus situation has also instructed to keep the quarantine facility till the end of May.