NEWS

Mumbai police on Wednesday issued fresh prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, banning assembly of five or more people at one place in the city, to contain the spread of coronavirus, an official said. The order will come into effect from 8 pm on Wednesday and remain valid till 7 am on May 1, he said.

This is part of the Maharashtra government's curfew-like restrictions on public movement over the next 15 days across the state. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, while announcing these restrictions on Tuesday, had said section 144 of CrPC will be in force across the state during the period. As per the order issued by the Mumbai police, all establishments, public places, activities, services, shall remain closed and nobody will visit public places without a valid reason.

Rajasthan on Wednesday announced a 12-hour night curfew from 6pm to 6am in all cities in view of the rising cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Earlier, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot had imposed a night curfew in nine cities of the state with effect from April 10 till April 30.

As per the order by the Rajasthan government, the night curfew will be imposed in nine cities-Ajmer, Alwar, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota and Abu Road starting from 8pm to 6am, till April 30. "In Udaipur, the night curfew will start from 6 pm to 6 am", the order said.

The state government will be forced to impose stricter measures in Rajasthan if people neglect Covid-19 safety protocols, Gehlot said earlier. He said the second wave of the coronavirus disease and the rising number of cases in the state is a matter of great concern.

Amid rising cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the Delhi government on Wednesday linked some hotels to hospitals, converting them into extended Covid hospitals. "In view of surge in Covid-19 cases and in order to augment Covid hospital bed capacity, these hotels are to be linked to hospitals mentioned against their names for converting them into extended Covid hospitals," the Delhi government said, according to news agency ANI.

Some of the hotels that are to be linked include Fraser Suites, Mayur Vihar, Caspia Hotel, Seven Seas Hotel and Banquet Hall and Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Earlier in the day, Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain said that the national capital is in talks to add more Covid beds. He also stated the plans to include banquets and hotels as Covid centres.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday (April 14) directed the administrations of various districts in the state to ensure that there is no shortage of beds and ventilators in the hospitals.

The decision comes even as the number of COVID-19 cases is rising at an alarming rate. Even the CM himself was not spared as he tested positive for the virus.

The CM directed the officials to ensure that the formula of 'Test, Trace, Treat' is practiced in order to contain the spread of infection.