Maharashtra government on Friday declared the coronavirus as an epidemic in five metropolitan cities – Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune & Pimpri Chinchwad. The malls, gyms, cinema halls, swimming polls will be closed down from Friday night onwards in these cities until March 31. “Wherever possible, corporates and owners of the private companies should allow employees to work from home from Monday. Avoid large gatherings,†said CM Uddhav Thackeray.
Making the announcement in the state Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said the government was invoking the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 from midnight.
Thackeray announced that schools in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad areas will remain shut till further orders but the SSC exams in those schools will continue as per schedule though.