With 11 more people testing positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra, the state now records 63 cases of COVID-19 in total, confirmed state Health Minister Rajesh Tope. While addressing a press conference on Saturday, 21 March, Tope said there are more than 250 beds for isolation and over 7,000 ordinary beds at hospitals across Maharashtra.
He added that Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has assured the Maharashtra government that the process of approving new testing labs will be expedited.
The state government has also placed an order to buy 150 ventilators that will be supplied to hospitals that are treating coronavirus patients, reported Mumbai Mirror.
The total number of ventilators in public and private hospitals across Mumbai right now is 1,600, reportedly. Most of these ventilators are already being used and with the number of coronavirus cases increasing in Maharashtra, the need for ventilators too is likely to surge.
Mumbai Roads Relatively Empty
With schools, colleges, malls and theatres shut for the last few days, roads in Mumbai witnessed less than usual traffic on Saturday, 21 March. All private and corporate establishments in the city, except those providing essential services, have been ordered to remain shut.
“Yesterday, we saw long queues outside railway stations for outbound trains. We have requested the chief minister to speak with the railway ministry to start additional trains so these people who want to go out of city or state, can go.”Rajesh Tope, Maharashtra Health Minister
Discouraging people who have been asked to isolate themselves at home from taking public transport, Tope added, “People who have been sent for home quarantine should travel either alone in a taxi to their house or in a group (other people who are also stamped home quarantine) in government-provided facilities. These people should not travel in public transport.”
Stepping up precautionary measures, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation has also restricted vehicular movement in areas of isolation centres and quarantine centres declared by the corporation, reported ANI.
‘Don’t Terminate Employees or Reduce Wages’
The Maharashtra Commissioner of Labour has requested public and private establishments not to terminate employees in view of COVID-19 outbreak in the state. In a letter, the Commissioner’s office states that “If any worker takes leave, he should be deemed to be on duty without any consequential deduction in wages for this period.
The letter further states:
“The termination of employee from the job or reduction in wages in this scenario would further deepen the crisis and will not only weaken the financial condition of the employee, but also hamper the morale to combat their fight with this epidemic. In view of this, you are therefore directed to issue necessary advisory to the employees/owners of all the establishments in your jurisdiction.”
Class 10 SSC Board Exams to Be Postponed
Class 10 SSC Board examination in Maharashtra will be postponed due the coronavirus scare in the state. The exams were scheduled to begin from Monday, 23 March. Maharashtra school education minister, Varsha Gaikwad, said that decision on the new date for rescheduling exams will be taken after 31 March.
CBSE and ICSE exams have already been postponed.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)