Pune: Amid the rising cases of novel coronavirus, Pune will not undergo lockdown but strict restrictions will be imposed if people fail to follow COVID-19 norms, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said here on Friday.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar who is also the Guardian Minister of Pune chaired a weekly review meeting on Friday to take the stock of COVID-19 situation in Pune. "I appeal all people of Pune to follow all COVID-19 norms. The decision on the lockdown will be taken on April 2, said Ajit Pawar.
"Only 50 people are allowed for the wedding while 20 are permitted for funerals. Meanwhile, schools, colleges and other educational institutes will remain shut till April 30. People those who want to visit parks, gardens, they will be only allowed to visit in the morning. Shopping malls, theatres will remain functional at 50 per cent capacity," he added.
Talking about the bed capacity for COVID-19 patients in the city, he informed, "50 per cent beds will be occupied from private hospitals. Also, Jumbo COVID centre will remain open to help patients. We have also asked Union Minister Prakash Javadekar to help us ramp up vaccination centres in the district."
Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol, Pimpri Chinchwad Mayor Usha Dhore, along with office bearers as well as Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao, Pune Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar, Collector Dr Rajesh Deshmukh, Commissioner of Police Amitabh Gupta, Pimpri Chinchwad Commissioner of Police Krishna Prakash, District Health Officer Dr Bhagwan Pawar as well as senior officers, were present at the meeting.
The COVID-19 surge in Pune continued in the last 24 hours with the district reporting 6,432 cases, according to health department. The district now has a caseload of 4,92,694, including 9,724 deaths, 42 of which were reported on Thursday.
Of the 6,432 total cases, Pune city (Pune Municipal Corporation) recorded 3,286 new cases on Thursday followed by 1,811 in Pimpri Chinchwad (Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation). Also, rural part of the district reported 972 new cases while the Cantonment saw 84 new cases on Thursday.
Amid the sudden spurt in the spread of COVID-19 infection, the Pune administration this week also reopened the jumbo COVID hospital situated at the College of Engineering Pune Ground.
