Dhule, Jalgaon & Solapur now in restricted category

Nashik: The cities of Dhule and Jalgaon in Nashik division, along with Solapur city from South Maharashtra, will now have the same restrictions on shops, establishments and travelling like in Mumbai and Pune.

The Dhule Municipal Corporation on Tuesday had 512 cases, up from 100 cases on May 22. Jalgaon city area has 728 Covid -19 cases, up from 100 cases registered on May 4.

Solapur city had recorded over 2,000 cases till Sunday.

The Covid-19 situation in these cities and neighouring talukas has been worsening, especially after the Unlock phase 1 began. The high death rate in these three cities and districts has been under the scanner this month.

“Given that the cases were rising, the district administration had already put up restrictions on the inter-district movement of people. This cut down the chances of fresh infections from outside,” a senior officer from Jalgaon district said.

Jalgaon district administration got a rehaul after a woman missing for five days from a Covid-19 hospital was found dead in the toilet block of the same ward.

In Dhule district, the administration had take measures like Janta Curfew on regular basis, but the cases refuse to go down. The major rise in the case was seen after the unlockdown announced by the state government.

“We have people coming in from Malegaon (once the hotspot in Nashik district) and Jalgaon,” the officials said.

Solapur city has seen rapid rise in Covid-19 cases in a short period. While the first patient in the city was recorded on April 12, it had 2,217 positive patients till Sunday night. Solapur city has seen 245 deaths during this period. Considered the gateway to Marathwada and Telangana, the civic administration has identified 55 areas, where patients are found in large numbers.