The recent surge in the number of positive cases in Pune forced the officials to impose a night curfew. Night curfew timings in Pune district have been revised to 6 pm-6 am from the earlier 8 pm-7 am. The decision was taken after a Covid-19 review meeting chaired by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Moreover, it has been decided to shut restaurants, bars, malls and religious places for seven days. Restaurants will, however, be allowed to provide food parcel and delivery services until 10 pm, Pune Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao said.
Amidst the news, Pune residents rushed to buy groceries with various rumours of lockdown. On Wednesday, the city recorded the highest-ever new Covid-19 infections — 8,593. At the last Covid-19 review meeting held on March 26, Pawar had warned that if the situation did not improve, the government would be forced to impose a “strict lockdown”.At the meeting, almost all elected representatives including Members of Parliament Girish Bapat, Shrirang Barne, Vandana Chavan, Amol Kolhe and Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol opposed the idea of imposing a complete lockdown, and instead proposed stringent curbs be imposed and effectively implemented by the police. Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao and PMC Commissioner Vikram Kumar said additional curbs at public places, markets and public transport were important to reduce the number of cases and consequently ensure those who are severely infected get a hospital bed.PMC Commissioner Vikram Kumar said at the rate Covid-19 cases were spreading in the city, the daily detections might soon touch 9,000 if stringent measures were not imposed.