<p>In a drastic step to curb the spread of coronavirus, the Maharashtra government ordered the closure of cinema halls, gyms, swimming pools and malls in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Nagpur cities from Friday midnight.</p>.<p>Making the announcement in the state Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said the government was invoking the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 from midnight.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-1-covid-19-positive-case-in-noida-confirmed-cases-in-india-rises-to-75-799686.html" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live updates of coronavirus cases in India here</strong></a></p>.<p>Wherever possible, companies should allow employees to work from home in view of coronavirus threat, he said.</p>.<p>Thackeray announced that schools in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad areas will remain shut till further orders.</p>.<p>However, the SSC exams in those schools will continue as per schedule, he said.</p>.<p>He also informed the House that so far, 17 persons have tested positive for coronavirus in the state- three each in Mumbai and Nagpur, 10 in Pune and one in Thane.</p>.<p>The chief minister also appealed to the people to avoid visiting malls. </p>
<p>In a drastic step to curb the spread of coronavirus, the Maharashtra government ordered the closure of cinema halls, gyms, swimming pools and malls in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Nagpur cities from Friday midnight.</p>.<p>Making the announcement in the state Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said the government was invoking the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 from midnight.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-1-covid-19-positive-case-in-noida-confirmed-cases-in-india-rises-to-75-799686.html" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live updates of coronavirus cases in India here</strong></a></p>.<p>Wherever possible, companies should allow employees to work from home in view of coronavirus threat, he said.</p>.<p>Thackeray announced that schools in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad areas will remain shut till further orders.</p>.<p>However, the SSC exams in those schools will continue as per schedule, he said.</p>.<p>He also informed the House that so far, 17 persons have tested positive for coronavirus in the state- three each in Mumbai and Nagpur, 10 in Pune and one in Thane.</p>.<p>The chief minister also appealed to the people to avoid visiting malls. </p>