Maharashtra Extends Lockdown Until 31 May As Coronavirus Cases In State Continue To Grow

On expected lines, Maharashtra on Sunday (17 May) extended the ongoing lockdown for the fourth consecutive period till 31 May, an official announcement said in Mumbai.

The order, issued by Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta, said that since the state is threatened with the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was expedient to extend the lockdown across Maharashtra till midnight 31 May.

This consecutive lockdown since 24 March would enable the government to undertake various emergency measures to prevent and curb the spread of the virus.

Maharashtra is the country's worst-hit by the pandemic, recording 30,706 cases and 1,135 fatalities, and Mumbai has become the worst hotspot with 696 deaths and 18,555 patients to date, and counting.

Officials said further details of the lockdown order would be made available later.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)