118 new cases push Maha tally to 3,320; death toll climbs to 201
nMUMBAI:THE Covid-19 death toll in Maharashtra crossed 200 on Friday and the number of cases climbed by 118 to 3,320 as the government in India’s worst-hit state expressed optimism that the spread of infection was slowing and promised an easing of norms in some regions.
Maharashtra’s death toll now stands at 201. Two-thirds of the state’s cases have been reported in Mumbai, which reported 12 new infections on Friday to take its total to 2,085.
The hot spot of Dharavi crossed 100 cases (101)with 15 new infections reported on Friday. 10 people have died in the slum cluster, considered Asia’s largest with at least 800,000 people living in cramped quarters.
In an order, the state government allowed construction work in cities including Mumbai and Pune with prior permission from civic authorities. The government permitted all urgent monsoon-related work. All industries in all rural areas, manufacturing and other industrial establishments in special economic zones, industrial townships of only non-containment areas might were also allowed, except in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Pune Municipal Corporations limits -- the two regions that make up the bulk of the cases in the state.
It further allowed construction of roads, buildings and irrigation projects. The order was issued by the chief secretary Ajoy Mehta on Friday and will come into effect from April 20.
“The state government is opening up major areas from the lockdown. This is the beginning of an economic recycle,” said a senior official, wishing not to be named.
However, no worker from hot spots or containment zones will be permitted to come to the work place, the order added.
The order came on a day the state government instructed to all landlords to not collect rent and not evict tenants for nonpayment of rent during the lockdown period.
“Due to the financial crisis, it is a fact that the tenants are not in a position to pay their rents. Considering this, rent collection should be pushed by up to three months and no one should be evicted for non-payment of rent,” stated an order issued by the state housing department.