MHA says COVID-19 situation 'especially serious' in Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Indore

COVID-19 situation is "especially serious" in Mumbai, Pune, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata and a few or places in West Bengal, and violation of lockdown measures risk spread of vel coronavirus, Centre said on Monday. In a communication to state governments, home ministry said re have been several incidents of violence against COVID-19 frontline healthcare professionals, complete violation of social distancing rms and movement of vehicles in urban areas. se should be stopped, it said.

death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 543 and number of cases climbed to 17,265 in country on Monday, according to Union health ministry. situation is "especially serious" in Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra, Jaipur in Rajasthan, and Kolkata, Howrah, East Medinipur, rth 24 Parganas, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, ministry said.

re are 4,203 confirmed coronavirus cases in Maharashtra of which 223 people lost ir lives, according to Union health ministry data. In Madhya Pradesh, out of 1,407 cases, 70 people have succumbed to disease. Rajasthan has reported 1,478 cases of which 14 people lost ir lives. In West Bengal, re are 339 confirmed cases of which 12 people died due to infection, according to health ministry data. "Violation of lockdown measures reported, posing a serious health hazard to public and risk for spread of COVID-19," it said.

central government has constituted six Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to make on-spot assessment of COVID-19 situation in se places and issue necessary directions to four states -- Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and West Bengal -- for redressal. teams will submit ir report to central government in larger interest of general public, ministry said.

" IMCTs will focus on compliance and implementation of lockdown measures as per guidelines, supply of essential commodities, social distancing, preparedness of health infrastructure, safety of health professionals and conditions of relief camps for labourers and poor people," a home ministry spokesperson said.

re have been several incidents of attacks on healthcare workers and police by some people in different parts of country, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, leading to injuries to doctors, paramedics and police personnel. lockdown was first anunced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 in a bid to combat coronavirus pandemic. It was furr extended till May 3.