Pune: Following the sharp rise in the number of coronavirus cases in Pune city, the administration here had already announced mini-lockdown and night curfew in the city till April 30.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Monday had also ordered for the closing of all non-essential establishments and markets till April 30. Pune, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus and one of the worst-hit cities in the country will see the weekend-lockdown from Friday night. The weekend-lockdown will remain in place till Monday morning in the city.
Though traders have opposed the move of strict restrictions, Pune will see its first weekend-lockdown since the pandemic started. Check what will remain shut during the weekend lockdown in Pune city:
- All restaurants, bars, cafes and eateries.
- Theatres, auditoriums and other gatherings
- All private offices
- All establishments including shops and shopping malls except medical shops
- Salons and spas
The timings of the night curfew has also been revised. The night curfew in the city will be imposed from 6 pm to 7 am.
On the other side, Pune city is also witnessing shortage of beds for the COVID-19 patients. Due to spurt in the spread of infection and rising cases, Pune needs more ventilator beds to prevent the second wave.
Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol on Thursday wrote a letter to Union Minister Prakash Javadekar Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope urging them for shifting of ventilator beds from the states where the situation is under control.
"If surge in new cases continues, we could have a dearth of ventilator beds. I have written to Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar requesting the transfer of ventilators beds from the states where COVID-19 is under control," Mohol was quoted as saying by ANI.
Meanwhile, Pune city on Thursday saw 5,651 new COVID-19 cases taking the progressive count to 3,05,372. The city witnessed 41 fatalities in 24 hours taking the death tally to 5,736.