MP Seals Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain To Contain Coronavirus, Curfew In Khandwa After 5 Test Positive For COVID-19

Amid the unabated menace of coronavirus pandemic, fresh cases of COVID-19 infections were reported from Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa on Thursday. The latest reports say that the administration has imposed curfew in the town. According to news agency ANI, five people were tested positive for COVID-19 infection. Though there has been no official confirmation from the state administration, the ANI report said that four out of five confirmed cases are linked to Tablighi Jamaat. The report said that the four Jamaatis, originally from Karnataka, were staying at a local mosque in Khandwa. There were a total 17 Jamaatis who were staying in Khandwa. While reports of other Tablighi members have come out as negative, the area has been declared as containment zone. This essentially means that no resident in the area will be allowed to enter or exit the place. Not only Khandwa, but other major cities of Bhopal have also been affected by the stringent measure. State capital Bhopal and other major cities including Indore and Ujjain have been completely sealed. The orders were issued by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday night. (Coronavirus Outbreak Live)

Apart from sealing the cities, the chief minister had also declared invoking Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) Act across the state for better management of the COVID-19 outbreak in the state. "The district administration should ensure the supply of essential commodities in these areas. No person will be able to go in and out of these areas. Services of all government departments and their resources should be taken in coronavirus related work," Chouhan said.

Madhya Pradesh has reported 13 COVID-19 deaths so far. Once a pride of the nation as the cleanest city, Indore is now one of the major corona hotspots. Multiple attacks on the medical staff and doctors on screening duty have also hit the 'clean image' of Indore. Chouhan had earlier said that strict action will be taken against those who attack the doctors and health workers on corona duty. Madhya Pradesh was the first state to impose stringent National Security Act against the attackers. Uttar Pradesh had also said that it will follow the MP model. On a national level, apart from Madhya Pradesh, some localities in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar have been sealed after the administration declared them as corona hotspot.

On Wednesday, in one of the clearest hint at the post-April 14 scenario, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that lifting the coronavirus lockdown is not possible at the moment. The latest reports say that during an all-party meeting, PM Modi said that he has received suggestions from various leaders and almost everyone is of view that lockdown should continue. There are reports that the final decision will be taken after the meeting of the Prime Minister with all Chief Ministers via video conference on April 11. PM Modi had imposed a 21-day lockdown across India from March 24 midnight. The confirmed cases in India have crossed 5,000-mark on Wednesday with nearly 150 deaths.