153 cases...

“The Army can help us control the situation by making makeshift hospitals, streamline supply lines etc. As far as our back-up plan is concerned, we have identified hospitals where isolation wards can be set up. Our supply lines are also being almost streamlined at present. We may not require their help, but have to be ready for any situation,” said Gagrani.

On Friday, 23 more people tested positive — 12 in Sangli, four in Nagpur, two each in Mumbai and Thane, one case each in Palghar, Gondia and one person from Gujarat, who was diagnosed in Mumbai. The 23 included the city’s youngest patient, a one-and-a-half-yearold boy who was admitted to Kasturba Hospital. According to officials, his 57-year-old father tested positive for the virus two days ago. The mother of the child has tested negative for the virus, while the child’s grandfather has tested positive. Although the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said there were nine new cases in the city, the state government has only accounted for six new cases on Friday.

To arrest the spread of the coronavirus, the state government is also focusing on tracing close contacts of the patients infected by the coronavirus. Public health minister Rajesh Tope, through his Facebook Live address, said the government is now working on the principle of three Ts — Tracing, Testing, and Treatment — to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

“With all modes of transport into Maharashtra shut, we are tracking close contacts of the infected. The government is now focused on three Ts — tracing, testing and treatment,” Tope said in his daily update via Facebook Live.

Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray in his address to the people of Maharashtra, via live stream, said that the state is at a very crucial turn, where the virus can go on multiplying, resulting in the rise of patients multifold.

“There is no need to panic as many patients have gotten cured after timely and right treatment. I appeal to people with international travel history to come forward if they have missed the coronavirus test after coming back. There is possibility of new cases coming to light after having gotten into contact with people with the international travel history. The cases may rise, but there is no need be scared,” he said.

Thackeray yet again appealed to people to stay at home.

The state government has also allowed home delivery services from restaurants and hotels as another move to reduce crowd on roads and consequently, minimise the risk of community transmission, but put the onus on staff hygiene for app-based services and restaurants.

Thackeray also assured that the government is committed to taking care of citizens of other states in Maharashtra as the state borders are sealed. The chief minister said he was getting calls from chief ministers of other states like Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh expressing concerns over their people stranded in the state. “I have assured them the safety and arrangements of the workers stranded here. I once again appeal to the people to stay back wherever they are. We are appealing to NGOS to come forward and take care of facilities like food and shelter for these