Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in the district, the Jalna district administration has ordered schools, colleges, coaching centres and weekly markets to remain shut till 31 March.
"Jalna district collector has ordered to shut schools, colleges, coaching classes and weekly markets in the district till March 31, due to current COVID-19 situation. Rapid Antigen test of all vegetable, fruit, newspaper vendors to be conducted periodically," Jalna SP V. Deshmukh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
An official told PTI that the decision was taken after a meeting was chaired by district collector Ravindra Binwade.
However, schools for classes XI and XII will function as usual. Permission for social, religious and political gatherings have been withdrawn, the official told PTI.
The district recorded 117 cases, including 28 in Jayde Wadi village in Bhokardan tehsil, taking the overall caseload to 14,782.
The administration ordered the closure of the famous Shri Rajur Ganpati temple in Bhokardan tehsil as part of measures to contain the spike.
Meanwhile, after slipping below 5,000 for a day, new COVID-19 cases again crossed the 6,000-mark in Maharashtra on Tuesday on the back of a spike in the Akola division, while 51 patients died, a multi-week high, in the state.
The state reported 6,218 new COVID-19 cases, up from 5,210 on Monday, taking the tally to 21,12,312, the health department said. The state -- which has witnessed an upsurge in COVID- 19 cases since February 10 -- reported 6,112 infections on February 19, followed by 6,281 on February 20 and 6,971 on February 21.
(With inputs from Agencies)
