While Madhya Pradesh is fighting it hard to ward off COVID-19, the numbers of positive cases are on a constant rise and amid unrestrained spread, Indore administration has decided to keep all markets shut from Monday onwards. “In the wake of rising numbers of positive cases, we have decided to keep all the markets closed from Monday onwards but doorstep supply of essentials would be ensured by the corporation,” Indore municipal corporation commissioner Ashish Singh told media persons on Saturday. The administration had introduced odd-even scheme for vehicles from Saturday. After two-three days of absolute lockdown, we could offer relaxation, said the commissioner. Meanwhile, on Saturday wee hours, four new positive cases were reported from Indore taking the total tally of positive cases to 19, including two who have died. Those who tested positive include a 60-year-old from Kakad, 42-year-old from Koylabakhal and 23-year-old from Gumastanagar area, all from Indore. Jansapura, Ujjain native (23) also has tested positive. Besides, a Gwalior native who had earlier tested positive recovered from the disease and on Saturday tested negative. His wife too has tested negative. Another Gwalior man, a Havildar from BSF, has tested positive on Saturday and the administration is screening those who were in his close contact. In all the number of positive cases has risen to 33 in Madhya Pradesh including two dead from Indore and Ujjain. The condition of the father-daughter positive patients is stable, health officers said. State government on Saturday also issued orders for releasing prisoners from all the jails for 45 days. The relaxation would be available to those whose jail term in less than five years. Cases of those sentenced for over five years should be forwarded to district courts concerned on the basis of the applications from the prisoners, an order from Jail headquarters Bhopal said. As the annual exams have been postponed in the wake of COVID19 scare in MP schools, the state government is planning to offer general promotion to students of class I to IX, sending them to next classes without exams. The board exams are also on hold amid novelcorona virus threat.

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