Pool testing reduces the number of test kits used, and therefore, increases testing capacity. Under the plasma therapy technique, transfusion of plasma from recovered patients to severally ill COVID-19 patients is conducted.
The government is also considering if those who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus can be allowed to travel by local trains in Mumbai, he said.
State Health Minister Rajesh Tope ordered a probe.
Maharashtra's Marathwada region is facing a severe drought due to inadequate rainfall for two successive years. The task before the state government -- to effectively implement relief and rehabilitation measures --is huge. In an interview with Sanjay Jog, Higher and Technical Education Minister Rajesh Tope, who is also a member of the state Cabinet Committee of Ministers on Implementation of Drought Relief Measures, speaks of the gravity of the situation
Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday said he has tested positive for coronavirus.
The state had recorded 1,134 new infections and three deaths the day before.
Thackeray is scheduled to hold consultations with the finance and other state departments on Monday and discussion will also take place in the cabinet meeting later this week.
Suggesting an alliance with ruling Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress in Maharashtra, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MP Imtiaz Jaleel has said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) can become a 'comfortable car' from the three-wheeled autorickshaw which can prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party from coming to power.
Tope's remarks on the forthcoming drive wherein people above 18 years will become eligible for immunisation came amid reports that many people in Maharashtra are not getting the doses due to the shortage.
Tope stressed on the need to impose restrictions wherever there is crowding.
"Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray could make an official announcement about more stringent measures tomorrow," Tope added.
In a bid to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, only government personnel engaged in providing essential services would be allowed to travel by local trains in Mumbai from Sunday night, a release by the Konkan divisional commissioner said on Saturday night. The restriction, which will effectively shut down the train services, Mumbai's lifeline, will come into effect from the midnight of Sunday, March 22, the release said.
"There is no sufficient supply of vaccine vials by the Centre for inoculation of above-45 age group people. Hence, the state cabinet decided to divert the stock, purchased for the 18-44 age group, for the above-45 age group," Health Minister Rajesh Tope said.
'The spread of COVID-19 is not increasing across Maharashtra.' 'Only Mumbai remains a concern.'
Mumbai's makeover plan has inched forward. The Rs 2.25 lakh crore plan for development of Mumbai Metropolitan Region is awaiting approval of the state government. The government will approve of this once the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) okays it. The plan includes infrastructure such as road transport, Metro rail, skybus, Brimstowad storm water drainage project & water transport development. The plan covers entire Mumbai as well as Thane district.
A meeting of local people's representatives, including legislators would be convened shortly to discuss related issues, he said.
The post was reserved for a woman from Other Backward Classes
"The international travellers who arrived in Mumbai from the high-risk countries have been identified and the swab samples of 28 such persons have been sent for genome sequencing. Out of them, nine persons have already tested COVID-19 positive," Health minister Rajesh Tope said.
The estimated cost of the project, proposed on four separate routes is Rs 1800 crore (Rs 18 billion). The first route covering 25 km is Malabar Hill- Gopalrao Deshmukh Marg-Haji Ali-Keshavrao Khade Marg-Jacob Circle-Sane Guruji Marg- S S Rao Marg-Dattaram Lad Marg-GD Ambedkar Marg-Wadala Marg-Wadala Truck Terminus-Antop Hill-Sion Hospital-Dharavi- Bandra Kurla Complex. The second route is of 10 km is Chembur-Mahul-Gidwani Marg-Gowandi-Chembur.
Munde, a Nationalist Congress Party leader, had attended a state cabinet meeting earlier this week and taken part in the Nationalist Congress Party's foundation day event two days ago in Mumbai.
Still reeling under a deadly second wave of Covid-19, Maharashtra may witness a third wave of the infection in July-August, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Thursday.
Tope also admitted that the "chalta hai" (laidback) attitude had creeped in after the government flattened the infection curve.
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar was on Tuesday admitted to a hospital in Mumbai, a day ahead of the scheduled surgery, after he experienced pain in his abdomen, a party leader said.
The Maharashtra government will extend the coronavirus-enforced lockdown-like curbs in the state after June 1 and relax them later in a phased manner, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Thursday.
The Maharashtra government has decided to stop home quarantining of COVID-19 patients in 18 districts where the positivity rate is high and all active patients in these areas would be admitted to COVID Care Centers, health minister Rajesh Tope said.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said the lowering of rates for the tests would provide a relief to the people.
In keeping with the committee's directives, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has been asked to arrange for more beds and increase testing across Mumbai, Tope said, adding that tents can also be put up in open grounds if needed. The IMCT on Wednesday visited quarantine facilities and transit camps at Dharavi to assess the corrective measures taken by the state government.
'There has been no significant increase in the number of fatalities.'
Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is serious and proactive about the state's issues and accuses people under PM of not taking this issue with same seriousness.
Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, became a much talked about subject after some recovering and recovered coronavirus patients were found infected with the disease, whose symptoms include headache, fever, pain under the eyes, nasal or sinus congestion and partial loss of vision.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said the exact cause behind the death of the 64-year-old is being ascertained as the deceased was also suffering from various ailments.
'They are doing a good surveillance job.' 'It is not easy to undertake this task on such a huge scale given the risks.' 'But home quarantine is not effective.' 'Only institutional quarantine can bring good results.'
Several vaccination centres across Mumbai, including a jumbo COVID-19 facility in business district BKC, suspended inoculation on Friday morning due to a shortage of doses, BMC sources said.
Many inoculation centres in Maharashtra are being shut due to the shortage of coronavirus vaccine, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday, adding the state now has 14 lakh doses which would last just three days.
Shinde announced that his government is committed to providing reservation to the Maratha community.
"Pawar saheb himself had said about the necessity of change in the guard a few days ago. We should see his decision in the light of his age and health also. Everyone has to take a decision according to time, Pawar saheb has taken a decision and he won't take it back," Ajit Pawar said.
Tope's comments came a day after the Centre asked the state to align its order with the SOPs issued by the Union health ministry.
Vardhan said that 9.1 crore vaccine doses have been utilised, while 2.4 crore are in stock and 1.9 crore vaccines are in the pipeline, indicating there are sufficient doses available for all states.
Many people are not maintaining social distance and do not wear masks, exposing themselves to the infection, experts say.
The Maharashtra government on Saturday evening announced suspension of the COVID-19 vaccination drive in the state till Monday owing to problems in the Co-Win app.
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