Maharashtra coronavirus cases rise to 52 after 3 more test positive

Mumbai: Three more persons tested positive for coronavirus infection in Maharashtra, taking the number of such cases in the state to 52, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference here, Tope said these new cases were detected in Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Till Thursday night, 49 cases of COVID-19 had been found in the state, including a 64-year person, who died in Mumbai earlier this week.

Tope said that five persons, who had earlier tested positive but were found negative after treatment, are being discharged on Friday.

"This means that the patients are doing well and recovering," he said.

The minister told reporters that the state government will bear the cost of Covid-19 patients under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Aroygya Yojana.

Tope also appealed to the people of the state to give 100 per cent response to the 'Janata Curfew' on Sunday by staying indoors as urged by Prime minister Narendra Modi.

Six sample testing centres are currently operating in the state and their number will be increased to 12 in the coming days, he said.

"To defeat the virus, people should avoid visiting crowded places," he said.