MAHARASHTRA’S AMRAVATI TO BE UNDER 1-WEEK LOCKDOWN OVER COVID-19 SPIKE

MUMBAI: Amravati in Maharashtra will be under one-week lockdown in the wake of a surge in the number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, the state government announced on Sunday. “One-week complete lockdown will remain in force in Amravati district excluding Achalpur city, beginning 8 pm tomorrow,” news agency ANI quoted Maharashtra’s guardian minister Yashomati Thakur as saying.

Essential services will be allowed to function during the lockdown, Thakur added.

Amravati has seen the sharpest spike in Covid-19 cases across Maharashtra this week. The district recorded the second highest number of cases (806) after the capital city of Mumbai - which saw its tally go up by 897 cases on Saturday, the sharpest spike after November 29.

The Akola division- which comprises of Amravati district and Amravati municipal corporationadded 1,726 new cases and 12 more related deaths on Saturday which pushed the overall tally and death toll of the division to 84,630 and 1,691 respectively. The number of Covid-19 cases in Amravati jumped from 82 on February 16 to 230 on February 17, prompting authorities to impose a weekend lockdown till Monday. District collector Shailesh Naval had appealed to the residents to follow all Covidrelated protocols failing which strict action would be taken.

State relief and rehabilitation minister Vijay Wadettiwar said that the state is considering imposing a night curfew in districts with high prevalence of infection.