Complete lockdown to be enforced in Pune from July 13 for 10 days

In an attempt to control the spread of COVID-19, a 10-day lockdown will be imposed in Pune, its neighbouring area Pimpri-Chinchwad, and a few other parts of the district starting July 13, a senior official said on Friday (July 10).

The lockdown will come into force from midnight of July 13 and end on July 23, he said.

The decision to enforce the lockdown was taken in a meeting chaired by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and district guardian minister Ajit Pawar here, the official said.

“A lockdown will be imposed in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and some other areas of the district considering the rise in COVID-19 cases,” divisional commissioner (Pune division) Deepak Mhaisekar said.

“Twenty two villages have been identified in rural parts of Pune district where this lockdown will be implemented,” Hindustan Times quoted Naval Kishore Ram, Pune district collector, as saying.

The lockdown period between July 13 and July 18 will be stricter, and only milk shops, pharmacies and clinics will be allowed to operate, Mhaisekar said. Emergency services have been excluded from the lockdown, he added.

Meanwhile, district collector Naval Kishore Ram said the decision was taken to break the chain of the spread of the virus.

A detailed order about the lockdown will be issued soon, Pune municipal commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad said.

Pune reported a record spike of 1,803 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday (July 9) that pushed the tally to 34,399, while the toll rose to 978.

Meanwhile, a lockdown with minimal exemptions that is in force in Thane city till July 12 has now been extended till July 19, according to a senior official.

The order was issued by Thane Municipal Corporation Additional Commissioner Ganesh Deshmukh. This “total” lockdown, as part of which most shops were closed and essential items ordered to be home delivered, was enforced on July 2 for a period of ten days.

As on Thursday night, Thane city accounts for 12,053 of the districts 48,856 COVID-19 cases. Thane accounts for 5.23 per cent of the cases and 4.80 per cent of deaths in Maharashtra.

(With inputs from agencies)