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"They will distribute coronavirus as prasad": Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Kumbh Mela devotees

On Friday, April 17, Maharashtra recorded the highest-ever surge in cases in the last 24 hours with 63,729 infections in a single day with 398 deaths. Meanwhile, Mumbai logged 8,803 new cases and 53 deaths in the last 24 hours.

"They will distribute coronavirus as prasad": Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Kumbh Mela devotees
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Speaking to reporters, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Saturday, April 17, commented that the pilgrims returning to Mumbai from the Kumbh Mela, Haridwar will have to compulsorily undergo institutional quarantine.

She mentioned that “The situation in Mumbai is grim and we cannot afford to risk anything at present. Those returning from Kumbh Mela to their respective states will distribute Coronavirus infection as 'prasad' and the situation will be worse. Hence, all these people should be quarantined in their respective states at their own cost. In Mumbai also, we're thinking of putting them under quarantine on their return."

Many devotees, locals and sadhus in Kumbh Mela have been testing positive for the past few days.

Kishori Pednekar welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s tweet appealing to devotees to keep the Mahakumbh symbolic as the country reported more than 200,000 new COVID-19 infections for the third straight day in a row. “The tweet by Prime Minister Modiji is absolutely correct and it should be curtailed. But it won’t help and people should quarantine themselves to avoid infecting others. In Mumbai, we have asked hotels to quarantine them,” she said.

A senior official has said that officially there has been no decision on this matter yet, but after the BMC decides new SOPs will be formed.

Moreover, the Mayor mentioned that a "complete lockdown" should be imposed in Mumbai due to the raging pandemic. "I think a complete lockdown should be imposed looking at the current COVID-19 situation," she added.

Pednekar said that 95 per cent of Mumbaikars are adhering to COVID-19 restrictions but the remaining five per cent are a big worry as they are causing problems to others with their behaviour.

On Friday, April 16, Maharashtra recorded the highest-ever surge in cases in the last 24 hours with 63,729 infections in a single day with 398 deaths. Meanwhile, Mumbai logged 8,803 new cases and 53 deaths in the last 24 hours.

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