May extend lockdown, says health minister; Maharashtra sees 67 new cases, toll 26

MUMBAI: On a day 67 Covid -19 cases were reported in the state, of which 80% or 53 cases were from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and 43 from within the city itself, health minister Rajesh Tope said the nationwide lockdown, which ends on April 14, may be extended in some parts of Maharashtra, especially in cities like Mumbai where the number of cases is high. Tope said this was his personal opinion.

The state also confirmed six deaths—four from the Mumbai metropolitan region, taking the toll to 26. It has also emerged that the 56-year-old from Dharavi who died on Wednesday had come in contact with a bunch that had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi.

He said the decision would take into account the number of cases in the state and select cities at that time. “Lockdown in cities like Mumbai may not be lifted completely on April 14. It may be extended by a few weeks,” he noted.

The state on Friday recorded six deaths, taking the toll to 26. The state tally reached 490 cases, of which over 50% cases (278) are from Mumbai alone.

The state’s tally has more than doubled in the past four days. The number of positive cases on March 30 were 220, with 10 deaths.

Of six new deaths reported b