Second wave of Covid-19 in Maharashtra? Amravati, Yavatmal impose weekend lockdown

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, Feb 18, 2021:     Covid-19 restrictions have made a comeback in two districts of Maharashtra — Amravati and Yavatmal — after they reported a sudden surge in coronavirus cases.

 

According to inputs from state health department, the positivity rate of Covid-19 test results in Amravati and Yavatal districts has risen from 15 per cent to 25 per cent within last few days.

The authorities have also found more contagious mutations of the Covid-19 virus during genome sequencing of Covid-19-infected samples from these two districts.

These developments have forced the authorities to impose the lockdown.

In Amravati, District Magistrate Shailesh Naval announced a complete lock-down from Saturday morning to Monday morning. On Friday, all establishments will close at 8 pm, the DM said.

“We urge people to follow the Covid-19 rules or we will be forced to take action against them,” Shailesh Naval said on Thursday.

In Yavatmal, the authorities have announced Covid-19 restrictions with immediate effect. As per the district authority order, no more than five people are allowed to gather after 8 pm on Thursday till February 28.

“In last few days, especially after February 8, the number of corona positive patients has been going up, especially in areas of Yavatmal city, Pandharkavda and Pusad. After discussion with the chief secretary yesterday, we have decided to demarcate areas depending on the risk factor,” Yavatmal District Collector M Devendra Singh said on Thursday.

The district collector said that the district will increase Covid-19 testing over the next few days.

MUTATED VIRUS IN AMRAVATI AND YAVATMAL

According to sources, the genome sequencing of random Covid-19-infected samples has found E484K mutation in one sample in Amravati and N440K mutation in another sample in Yavatmal.

The British Medical Journal reported that E484K mutation has been found in the fast-spreading South African, UK and Brazilian variants.

The N440K mutation has been found in one of the four samples the district has been sent for genome sequencing and is associated with evading antibody response, sources said.

However, a second confirmation from the National Institute of Virology, Pune is awaited, they said.

SURGE IN CASES IN MAHARASHTRA

Maharashtra reported 5,427 new Covid-19 cases and 38 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours. With this, Maharashtra’s Covid-19 tally has crossed 19.90 lakh.

Courtesy:India Today