Covid surge: Maharashtra registers over 17,000 new cases; many states impose fresh curbs

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra, which according to the Centre is in the beginning of second Covid wave, registered over 17,000 new cases on Tuesday as it led the India surge.


The surge in cases has prompted several states to impose new set of curbs. While Madhya Pradesh government imposed

night curfew

in Bhopal and Indore, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation asked teachers in Mumbai to work from home.

Countrywide cases cross 20,000 for 6th day India recorded 24,492 new

Covid-19 cases

taking the infection tally past 1.14 crore, the

Union health ministry

said. The total cases rose to 1,14,09,831, while the death toll increased to 1,58,856, with 131 fresh fatalities. Registering a spike in cases for the sixth day in a row, the active caseload has increased to 2,23,432, which now comprises 1.96 per cent of the total infections, the ministry said.

Maharashtra at 'beginning of second Covid wave'
A central team has warned that Maharashtra is at the "beginning" of a second Covid-19 wave prompting the Union government to tell the worst hit state to focus on strict containment strategies.


A report by a central team after visiting Maharashtra highlighted that there is "very limited active" effort to track, test, isolate cases and quarantine contacts, and there is no adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour among people in rural and urban areas.

Maharashtra reported 17,864 new coronavirus cases - highest one-day rise this year - and 87 deaths, a health official said. The caseload in the state rose to 23,47,328 and death toll reached 52,996.

Night curfew in Bhopal, Indore from tomorrow
In view of a surge in coronavirus cases in Madhya Pradesh, the state government announced night curfew in Bhopal and Indore city areas from Wednesday, an official said.

Besides, shops will remain closed after 10 pm in eight other cities, he said. Shops will be closed after 10 pm in Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Ratlam, Chhindwara, Burhanpur, Betul and Khargone, the official said.

On Holi, no public programs will be allowed, but the festival can be celebrated by individuals. Thermal screening and one-week isolation for those arriving from neighbouring Maharashtra will continue.

BMC asks teachers in Mumbai to work from home
BMC education department on Tuesday issued an order asking all schools in its jurisdiction to discontinue 50% rotational attendance rule from March 17. "Teachers will take their classes in 'Work From Home' pattern with help of e-learning platforms until further orders," BMC said in its order.

Night curfew extended for 2 hours in Gujarat hotspots
Amid surge in Covid-19 cases, Gujarat government on Tuesday announced to extend the night curfew timing in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot for two hours. Accrodingly, the curfew in these four cities will be imposed from 10 pm. to 6 am., instead of the existing timing of midnight to 6 am, with effect from Wednesday.

On Monday, the state had reported 890 fresh coronavirus cases, forcing the government to extend the night curfew timing in the four hotspots by two hours.

(With agency inputs)