COVID-19 situation 'especially serious' in Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Indore: MHA

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 19

Noting that the COVID-19 situation “is “especially serious” in Mumbai, Pune, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata and a few places in West Bengal, the Centre on Monday constituted six Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to make an assessment of the situation and augment the states’ efforts in their fight against the deadly virus.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in four separate orders to Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, observed that violation of lockdown measures would risk the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Apart from making an on-spot assessment of the COVID-19 situation and issuing necessary directions to the four states on corrective measures, the IMCTs will submit their report to the central government, the MHA said.

“The IMCTs will focus on compliance and implementation of the lockdown measures as per guidelines, supply of essential commodities, social distancing, preparedness of health infrastructure, safety of health professionals and conditions of relief camps for labourers and poor people,” a senior MHA official said.

In the communications to the states, the MHA said there have been several incidents of violence against COVID-19 frontline healthcare professionals, a complete violation of social distancing norms and movement of vehicles in urban areas and these should be stopped immediately.

The situation is “especially serious” in Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra, Jaipur in Rajasthan, and Kolkata, Howrah, East Medinipur, North 24 Parganas, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, the MHA said.

There are 4,203 confirmed coronavirus cases in Maharashtra of which 223 people lost their lives, according to Union health ministry data. In Madhya Pradesh, out of the 1,407 cases, 70 people have succumbed to the disease.

Rajasthan has reported 1,478 cases of which 14 people lost their lives. In West Bengal, there are 339 confirmed cases of which 12 people died due to the infection, according to health ministry data. “Violation of lockdown measures reported, posing a serious health hazard to public and risk for spread of COVID-19,” the MHA said.