'Big' rise in COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, we're heading towards Phase-3: Health Minister Rajesh Tope

As the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread like wildfire in the country, Health Minister of Maharashtra Rajesh Tope on Saturday said that there has been a "big rise" in the number of patients in the state who tested positive for the virus infection, urging the citizens to avoid using public transport to contain the spread.

Notably, 12 such cases have come to light in Maharashtra on Saturday alone, bringing the total number of those reported to have been affected to 64. While eight of the 11 patients have had travel history to coronavirus-affected nations, four got infected after being in contact with them. Location-wise, eight cases were in Mumbai, two in Pune, and one each in Yavatmal and Kalyan.

"I appeal to the people not to venture out. They should exercise self discipline by maintaining social distancing and hygiene," the state heath minister urged, adding, "If there is no reduction in crowd in public transport, a shutdown will have to be put in place. There is also an option of allowing people in public transport after checking their I-cards."

Tope admitted that the rise from 52 from 64 in one day was "big" and that if people do not listen and continue to use public transport unnecessarily, the state government will have to "think otherwise".

"We are in Phase-2 and heading towards Phase-3," Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said.

The Phase-2 of a virus transmission is the local transmission where a person who has been exposed to the virus stands at risk of getting infected, i.e. in this case people with a history of travelling abroad. However, Phase-3 would entail what is known as 'community transmission', i.e. people with no history of travelling abroad potentially getting infected via interactions among their immediate communities.

The minister also said that the rush of the working class at the railway stations to head back to their home state is something to worry about. "We have asked for increasing the number of outstation trains, so that those who want to go back to their native places, can do so. This will reduce crowding at railway stations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Pune," the minister said.

He added that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray might also visit a few railway stations to see if people are responding to the advisories on crowd control.

Maharashtra has the highest number of cases, followed by Kerala with 40.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic body of Greater Mumbai, has provided an update from its Twitter handle regarding the situation in the city, once again urging citizens to practice social distancing. The civic body also said that it is imperative that the "essential services" stay on, especially since the surivival of a huge population living in adverse conditions in the slums and single rooms are dependent on food, water and other basic facilities.

BMC also posted an amended order under Rule-10 for social distancing. 

The order lists measures such as restricting vehicular movement in the areas of quarantine centres, closure of schools, cinema halls, private establishments, and other places of mass gatherings, and other measures to cut down the spread and flatten the curve.

A link to the amended order under the Brihanmumbai Mahanagarpalika is provided here. It is to be noted that this order supercedes all earlier orders.

(With PTI inputs)