With cases continuing to spike, the lockdown restrictions in the metropolitan areas of Mumbai and Pune might be extended beyond May 3 till June, reported The Economic Times citing government officials. The officials said that with the rise in the number of cases, parts of the state will continue under lockdown for an extended period after May 3.

“As of now, there is no question of lifting the lockdown in Mumbai and Pune MMR region. In fact, with the rising numbers, there may be a need to tighten restrictions,” the report quoted a state government official as saying. A lockdown extension would mean that restrictions on local trains, buses, shops and establishments may continue to remain till at least June.

Maharashtra has been the worst affected state in India. On Saturday, 387 new coronavirus cases were reported from Maharashtra, according to data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This brings the total reported cases of coronavirus in Maharashtra to 6,817. Among the total people infected as on date, 840 have recovered and 301 have passed away. Pune alone has recorded 68 deaths. Mumbai, which has registered 4,447 cases so far, has seen 178 casualties.

The decision to extend the lockdown in Mumbai and Pune would come as a jolt to the government and private sector keen to start the businesses running in India's financial capital. At the same time, in a breather, the daily tally of Mumbai and Maharashtra witnessed a surprising but welcome drop of 50 per cent on Friday, a day after registering the highest single-daily tally. The state recorded 394 cases, against 778 on Thursday. Mumbai reported 242 cases on Friday, 53 per cent fewer than 522 on Thursday.

Meanwhile, India's total number of coronavirus positive cases rose to 24,506, including 18,668 active cases, 5063 cured/discharged/migrated and 775 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday.





