Coronavirus: Don't celebrate festivals now, says Jayant Patil

Mumbai, Apr 4 () People should not come together tocelebrate religious festivals at this time because governmentorders will have to be followed completely to overcome thecoronavirus outbreak, Maharashtra minister and senior NCPleader Jayant Patil said on Saturday.

In a Facebook address, he said the virus could infectanybody irrespective of religion and hence rules need to befollowed by all.

"There is no need to panic if the number of COVID-19patients increases. We will definitely be successful incombating it. But no matter which community you belong to, youshould not come together to celebrate festivals," Patil said,though he did not specify any community or festival.

While Ram Navami was a few days ago, Mahavir Jayantiand Hanuman Jayanti are round the corner, though the state andcountry are under a lockdown, which prohibits movement andassembly of people, for the coronavirus outbreak.

Patil said the lockdown has been "90 per centsuccessful".

He expressed concern over the rise in the number ofCOVID-19 patients in cities like Mumbai and Pune.

In Sangli, the 25 individuals who tested positive arestable as they got treatment in time, he said.

A coronavirus testing laboratory has been set up inMiraj in Sangli and it will benefit people from Ratnagiri,Sindhudurg and Solapur districts as well as the neighbouringstate of Goa, Patil said. ENMBNM BNM