A strict lockdown will be imposed in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad for 10 days starting from Monday (July 13). Both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are witnessing a huge surge in the spread of COVID-19.
Pune Divisional Commissioner Dr Deepak Mhaisekar on Friday said, “A strict lockdown will be reimposed till 23 July. Only milk shops and medicine shops will be allowed to function from. The situation will be reviewed after July 18 where some relaxations may be given on the lockdown depending on the situation.”
He added, “Strict lockdown will be reimposed in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad. Special passes will be given to those who are working in the essential service sector to travel.”
Pune District Collector Naval Kishore Ram said, “The decision of the strict lockdown has been taken in the wake of rising cases in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Rural areas of Pune will also undergo strict lockdown. As 22 villages in Pune are already included in the list.”
Earlier on Friday, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar instructed, the Pune district administration to declare a strict lockdown for 15 days in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad areas in order to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Meanwhile, record 1,803 new coronavirus cases were reported in Pune district on Friday with the total count now stands at 34,399 in the district. The death total in the district went up to 978 with 34 more people died due to the contagion on Thursday.
From the total 1,803 cases which is the highest single-day spike in Pune, 1,032 cases were reported from Pune Municipal Corporation area while Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation witnessed 573 new cases. On the positive front, a total of 581 patients were discharged from hospitals on Thursday.
Pune District Collector Naval Kishore Ram, Pune Police Commissioner K Venkatesham, Pune Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad, Divisional Commissioner Dr Deepak Mhaisekar and Pune Rural Police Chief Sandeep Patil addressed mediapersons on Friday.
