In a first, Maharashtra records over 10,000 COVID cases in a day;active cases at 1,36,980 

In a first, Maharashtra recorded more than 10,000 COVID-19 cases in a day, propelling state's vel coronavirus tally on Wednesday, July 22 to 3,37,607. A total of 10,576 new vel coronavirus cases were reported. At present, re are 1,36,980 active cases in state. With 5,552 COVID-19 patients discharged in day, number of recovered soared to 1,87,769.

280 deaths- 58 from Mumbai, 39 from Pune, 29 from Thane, 27 from Aurangabad, 18 from Pimpri-Chinchwad, 16 from Kolhapur, 12 from Solapur, 9 from Jalgaon, 7 each from Mira-Bhayandar and Nashik, 6 each from Ahmednagar and Kalyan-Dombivali, 4 each from Vasai-Virar and Sangli, three each from Nagpur, Akola, Nanded, Latur, Ratnagiri, Navi Mumbai, Bhiwandi and Panvel, two each from Ulhasnagar, Satara and Parbhani and one each from Buldhana, Osmanabad, Jalna, Hingoli, Nandurbar, Raigad and Palghar were reported on Wednesday. 

Until w, a total of 12,556 persons have died owing to COVID-19. So far, 16,87,213 samples have been tested for vel coronavirus in labs operational across state. While 8,58,121 persons are under home quarantine, 44,975 ors have been admitted to institutional quarantine centres. COVID-19 positivity rate, recovery rate, and fatality rate in Maharashtra stands at 20%, 55.62%, and 3.72% respectively. 

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Fadnavis' COVID review visits targeted?

In a significant move on Tuesday, a Government Resolution was issued in Maharashtra restricting government officials from attending meetings organized by Leader of Opposition. This comes in wake of former CM and LoP Devendra Fadnavis's statewide tour where he visited many cities plagued by COVID-19 crisis. During se visits, he often reviewed situation along with administrative officials. 

GR specifies that only Ministers have right to call officials for meetings, have discussions with m, and give m orders. At same time, state government has mooted ar solution to resolve  pressing problems of people. district collector has been advised to demand list of pending works in advance. Every month, a day will be set aside to convene a meeting in this regard for which concerned MLA shall be invited.

This move attracted ire of BJP, who demanded an immediate withdrawal of GR. Speaking on controversy, BJP MLA Ram Kadam mentioned that Fadnavis was touring ok and corner of Maharashtra to help people, something that state Ministers had failed to do. According to him, this was MVA government's ploy to ensure that ir alleged poor handling of COVID-19 situation does t draw public attention. 

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