Number of Covid-19 patients crossed 80,000 in Maharashtra

The number of coronavirus patients has crossed eighty thousand in Maharashtra. The state recorded 2436 new cases leading to a tally of 80,229. The death toll too surged by 139, the highest in a day recorded so far.

The number of people who have died due to COVID-19 in the state stands at 2849, while the total number of recovered patients stands at 35,156 with as many as 1475 patients discharged today. According to the state health department, Maharashtra currently has 42,224 active patients while 5,22,946 people have been tested so far.

 

Even as the state slowly begins to unlock, the Maharashtra Government has said that it is mandatory for government employees to be present in office once a week, failing which they will have to face salary cut. As per a notification issued by additional chief secretary (finance) Manoj Saunik, disciplinary action will be taken against those who remain absent. Besides, if an employee remains absent during the assigned day, he/she will lose pay for an entire week.

The notification said that all government departments have been asked



to prepare a roaster of officers and employees affiliated to them. However, those on sanctioned leave or medical leave will be exempt. The order will come into effect from 8th June. The notification was issued after it came to light that employees were not reporting to work during the lockdown and some had even left for their hometowns.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government and Mumbai’s civic body has informed the Bombay High Court that they were considering requisition of privately operated ambulances to deal with COVID-19 pandemic. Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni and BMC counsel Anil Sakhare said that Regional Transport Office - RTOs will be directed to publish contact numbers of private ambulances operating in a particular area for easy access.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Amjad Sayed was hearing a petition filed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, raising concerns over shortage of ambulances. The petition had alleged that Mumbai had just 100 ambulances at present as against 3000 in pre-COVID time.