Maharashtra has demanded a special economic package for Mumbai from the centre (File)
Maharashtra crossed the 30,000-mark on Saturday, reporting 1,606 coronavirus cases in a day, government data said. The worst COVID-19 hit state in the country also reported 67 deaths in 24 hours. With a jump of 884 cases, Mumbai's total reached 18,555.
Mumbai, the worst-hit city, reported 41 deaths on Saturday. 696 people have died so far in the state capital. Among those who died, 26 were male, 15 females, a Maharashtra government statement read, adding 24 had comorbidities. Two were below the age of 40; 27 were above 60.
Seven deaths were reported in Pune on Saturday, seven in Thane city, five in Aurangabad city, three in Jalgaon, two in Mira-Bhayandar and one each in Nashik and Solapur.
524 coronavirus patients were discharged on Saturday in Maharashtra. Total 7,088 patients have been cured of the disease so far.
There are 22,479 active cases in Maharashtra as of now.
"As per the guidance from Government of India, cluster containment action plan is being implemented in places where clusters of patients have been found in the state. There are 1,516 active containment zones in the state currently. Total 14,434 surveillance squads worked today across the state and surveillance of 60.93 lakh population was done," the statement read.
"Currently, 3,34,558 people are in home quarantine and 17,048 people are in institutional quarantine," it added.
With the number of cases rising steadily, the state government is not taking any chances as far as the lockdown is concerned. Maharashtra's Industry Minister Subhash Desai told NDTV after a meeting with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday that the lockdown will be extended in Mumbai and other major cities.
"Looking at the way cases have been going up in big cities like Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Malegaon, Aurangabad, it seems the lockdown may be extended. It will have to be done because of the situation. The government focus is on the health of the people. The first focus is that. Then of course there is industry and economy," the minister said.
Maharashtra has demanded a special economic package for Mumbai from the centre. Several decisions have been taken to get the economy on track, Mr Desai said.
With inputs from PTI