Pune: With more than 35 persons being identified as COVID-19 positive from the Wagholi area, the gram panchayat office bearers have called for a six-day voluntary (janata) curfew in the area from September 12 to 17. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting held by the gram panchayat on Wednesday (September 9).

The number of Covid-19 patients in Wagholi has reached 924. Currently, the number of active patients is 232. On Wednesday, 9 patients were discharged home. A day earlier, more than 22 persons from a single family who had attended a wedding ceremony in Pimpri Chinchwad eight days ago were found to be Covid-19 positive on Tuesday. The area was then immediately sealed off by the gram panchayat and shops were also shut. Wagholi has been declared a containment zone. Against this backdrop, the Gram Panchayat office bearers discussed the rising number of Covid-19 cases at a meeting held on Wednesday.

During the meeting, it was decided to call for a voluntary curfew between September 12 and 17 to curb coronavirus infection spread in the Wagholi area. The meeting was attended by Sarpanch Vasundhara Ubale, Deputy Sarpanch Malati Gogavale, Police Inspector Pratap Mankar, Village Development Officer Anil Kumbhar, Gram Panchayat members and villagers.

Varsha Gaikwad, Medical Officer of Wagholi Public Health Centre told media persons that the Covid-19 hospitals and centres at Ayurvedic College and BJS college are full to their capacity. Patients from Shirur have also been admitted to these medical facilities. Gaikwad also appealed to citizens to adhere to social distancing rules, wear masks and follow the guidelines of the government.

Earlier, in June month, citizens of Wagholi were surprised after the locals had imposed a sudden shutdown in the area by sealing the roads and shops. This shutdown lasted only for 11 hours and the order was withdrawn after public outrage over the issue.