Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad declared red zones: All we know

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Pune Municipal Corporation on Sunday passed an order to declare the complete metropolitan area under the jurisdiction of Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation as coronavirus containment zone (Red Zone) until 27 April.  The orders to the effect were issued by Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation on Sunday night, effectively sealing a population of 7.5 million. Pune is the worst-hit region in Maharashtra after Mumbai as coronavirus cases continue to rise.

This is the first time in India that an entire city has been sealed since the coronavirus related lockdown began. The decision to seal Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad comes on a day when Maharashtra has decided to partially lift lockdown restrictions for allowing limited business activity in green and orange zones. The lifting of restrictions with limitations in several districts of Maharashtra is an attempt to restart the economy, state Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had said on Sunday. The Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad lockdown means all-district borders will remain completely sealed allowing only essential supplies. The government offices will also  be allowed to work with maximum 10 per cent workforce in office.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar instructed, on Saturday, that lockdown be implemented more stringently in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad limits.

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad issued an order to this effect on Sunday night and declared entire Pune city as a "containment zone".His Pimpri Chinchwad (PCMC) counterpart, Dr Shravan Hardikar, also issued a similar order, news agency PTI reported.

As per the orders, all the areas in both the municipal limits will be sealed from Sunday midnight till further orders.

The decision has been taken in view of the rise in the number of COVID-19 positive cases and the increased number of deaths, officials said.

As per the orders, the entry and exit of people, barring those carrying out essential services, into and outside the corporation limits has been prohibited.

A PCMC official said that as per the new orders, the shops selling essential commodities and vegetables would be allowed to function between 10 am and 2 pm.

Action will be taken against those found roaming in the cities unnecessarily, the officials said.

So far, 669 people have tested coronavirus positive in Pune district, with 51 succumbing to the infection.

(With PTI and ANI inputs)

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