A total of 58 people died due to coronavirus in Maharashtra today. (File)
Highlights
- Maharashtra logged 25,833 fresh cases of Covid over the last 24 hours
- In the same period, 58 deaths have taken place due to Covid
- Yesterday, the state logged 23,179 new coronavirus cases
Maharashtra has logged 25,833 fresh cases of Covid over the last 24 hours — highest since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, becoming the epicentre of the second peak of the virus. In the same period, 58 deaths have taken place, marking a sharp rise in both the number of cases and fatalities.
Yesterday, the state logged 23,179 new coronavirus cases — nearly 30 per cent higher than the day before. As of March 1, the positivity rate was around 11 per cent for Maharashtra, which grew to more than 16 per cent. Over the last 24 hours, the figure has dropped marginally to 13.35 per cent.
The figures on fatality also reflect a similar trend, currently standing at 2.2 per cent.
While the Uddhav Thackeray government is not giving any break-up data or details on hotspot locations, it is suspected that several strains of mutated virus are at work there, which accounts for such sharp rise in numbers.
Overall, there has been a big jump in cases of mutant strains since their presence was detected in India. 158 new cases have been reported over the last 14 days. On March 18, India has logged 400 cases of UK, South Africa and Brazil variants of the disease.
The Maharashtra government has prohibited all social, cultural, political and religious gatherings in the state to curb further spread of Covid-19.
Maharashtra’s Palghar has ordered the indefinite closure of all schools and colleges in the Vasai-Virar civic jurisdiction from Thursday. Government and private hostels in the district will be shut from March 23 till further orders.
Yesterday, the Union health ministry said 60 per cent of the country’s active Covid cases and 45.4 per cent of deaths are concentrated in Maharashtra.
Calling for decisive action, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a virtual meeting with Chief Ministers, said, “We need to soon stop the emerging second peak of corona,” and asked them to increase testing and ensure the use masks.
3.89 crore vaccinations have been done in India as of 7 pm today, provisional figures show.
Today, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said his government can vaccinate the city in 3 months “if the Centre gives its nod”. After Mumbai, Delhi is the city that logged maximum cases of COVID-19.