Coronavirus: Cinema Halls, Pubs, Gyms To Be Shut In Six Major Cities Of Maharashtra

The Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government on Friday issued an order to shut down cinema halls, gyms, swimming pools from March 13th midnight in five major cities of the state to ensure safety from coronavirus pandemic. These cities include Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Nagpur.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in State Assembly stated that wherever possible, companies should allow their employees to work from home in viewof coronavirus threat.

Apart from this, National carrier Air India on Friday announced cancelled its flight services to Italy, France, Germany, Spain, South Korea and Sri Lanka till April 30 in view of novel coronavirus which has claimed more than 5,000 lives globally.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray: All malls, theaters, gyms, swimming pools in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur, Pimpri-Chinchawad to be closed starting midnight today till 30th March. (file pic) #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/1avFL0gIRy

— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2020

Meanwhile, the India vs South Africa ODI series that was to be played in Lucknow and Kolkata behind closed doors has now been cancelled in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic which has also forced the postponment of the 2020 Indian Premier League.

Also Read | Coronavirus: Air India Cancels Flights To Italy, France, Germany, Spain, South Korea, Sri Lanka Till April 30

The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has risen to 5,043, according to an AFP tally based on official sources at 1630 IST on Friday. A total of 3,176 people have died in mainland China, followed by 1,016 in Italy, and 514 in Iran -- the three countries with the highest number of deaths. Since COVID-19 was first detected in December, more than 134,300 people have been infected in 121 countries and territories.