NAGPUR: The district collectors of all 11 districts in Vidarbha region issued notifications enforcing level 3 restrictions on Saturday, following the directives given by state government.
All districts in Vidarbha are in level 3, and the restrictions imposed are uniform across the region now.
Nevertheless, the decline in Covid-19 cases and deaths continued on Saturday too.
The region reported 188 new cases — a number lower even than in the first wave.
The last time fewer than 188 cases were reported in a day was in July 2020.
Deaths reduced to five, with eight out of 11 districts reporting zero deaths.
The recovery count on Saturday was 441.
With this, 10,72,707 out of 10,95,543 patients reported till date have recovered.
The recovery rate of Vidarbha is 98%, even better than that during the receding of first wave in January 2021.
Still, the level 3 restrictions have been imposed in all 11 districts taking into consideration the probable spread of the Delta plus variant of coronavirus.
This has created panic and confusion among people.
Many events and marriage functions planned for after June 28 are now staring at cancellation.
Sudden implementation of new restrictions, despite the region doing well on both parameters — test positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy — left people in the lurch.
More than 28,000 tests were conducted in Vidarbha on Saturday.
Out of them, 188 were found positive, which means test positivity in the region is at 0.67% now.
Districts like Gondia have even lower test positivity.
Now, only 2,661 patients are under treatment in the region.
With majority of them in home isolation, most hospital beds are unoccupied.
The region enjoyed level 1 relaxations over the last two weeks and there was no spike in cases or deaths.
District collectors have made it clear that these orders are temporary and can be revised in a week.
Washim, for instance, has announced the date of July 12 to remove the restrictions.
This means, the administration has made up its mind to have these restrictions for 10-12 days only.
Yavatmal: The district reported no death for the 10th day in a row, keeping the toll unchanged at 1,789.
The administration received 993 test reports, of which 15 were found positive.
Currently 54 patients are undergoing treatment.
Of the 72,707 total cases so far, 70,867 — including 19 on Saturday — have recovered.
The test positivity rate is 10.72% and the death rate is 2.46%.
The daily positivity rate is 1.51%.
The district has tested 6,78,332 swab samples so far.
Meanwhile, district collector Amol Yedge has issued another circular to bring in more strict restrictions.
All the shops will operate till 4pm from June 28 onwards.
Government and private offices will work with 50% staff.
Amravati: While the district posted 36 new cases on Saturday, there wasn’t a single Covid death reported, keeping the toll constant at 1,549.
The caseload has now reached 95,847.
Ninety-five recoveries took the total to 93,760, leaving 538 active cases under treatment.
Wardha: With 12 new positive cases, the caseload reached 49,194 and after 19 discharges, the total recoveries reached 47,796 on Saturday, leaving 78 under treatment.
As many as 1,255 test reports were received, and 12 were found positive from Wardha (6), Karanja (2), Hinganghat, Deoli, Selu and Ashti (1 each).
No death was reported on Saturday, and the toll stands at 1,320.
Chandrapur: Two deaths, 16 new cases and 86 recoveries were recorded on Saturday, leaving 431 patients under treatment.
The toll has now grown to 1,526, while caseload and total recoveries stand at 84,634 and 82,677 respectively.
Bhandara: Out of 643 tests, 3 were found positive.
This took the case load to 59,464.
With 16 patients recovering, total recoveries now amount to 58,272.
Bhandara now has only 66 patients under treatment.
Gondia: On Saturday, 3,904 tests were conducted in Gondia district.
Only 4 of them were positive, which means roughly 1 out of every 1,000 people tested positive.
No death was reported, while 8 patients recovered.
Now, the district has 41,110 cases, 40,366 recoveries and 45 patients under treatment.
With 27 of them under home isolation, majority of oxygen beds are vacant.
Gadchiroli: With 765 tests conducted and 10 of them testing positive on Saturday, the district now has 30,194 total cases.
With 26 recoveries and no death in last 24 hours, 29,264 of them have recovered and 190 patients are under treatment.
Recovery rate of Gadchiroli is nearing 97%.
Akola: The district reported no death and 27 new cases, while 14 patients recovered.
Now, Akola has total 57,556 cases, 56,004 of them have recovered and the toll is unchanged at 1,126.
Now, 426 patients are under treatment.
On Saturday, 1,631 tests were conducted.
Buldhana: There were 2,796 tests and 31 of them were found positive.
The caseload reached 86,515.
With 51 recoveries, the tally reached 85,767.
A death was also reported, which took the toll to 659.
Now, Buldhana has 89 patients under treatment.
Washim: On Saturday, 16 new patients, 27 recoveries and no deaths were reported in Washim.
The caseload of the district is now 41,360.
Out of them, 40,471 have recovered.
Washim’s recovery rate is more than 97%.