With nearly 98 fresh cases today and the total tally of positive cases reaching 561, Rajasthan government and local administrative bodies have imposed curfews in nearly 40 odd places across the state.  This has resulted in the Chief Minister considering extending the lockdown till 30 April.

The decision was reviewed in the Chief Ministers meeting today even as he sought understanding from various entrepreneurs and business houses earlier in the day to elaborate on the lockdown plans.

 A 65 year old woman who died of COVID19 at Jaipur today became the latest casualty as the state hit 8 deaths.

Ashok Gehlot, in his address to the media a couple of day ago had indicated that the lockdown will not be done away with on 14 April and the Prime Minister had also hinted the same in his Video Conference a day ago.  Other states have also indicated that they will be preferring to go ahead with extending the lockdown, Maharashtra, Telangana and Karnataka being some of them.  The final decision will be coming at an opportune time in lines with the discussions with the other state heads and the Prime Minister.

The Rajasthan Chief Minister had, earlier in the day met entrepreneurs and business men of the state through video conferencing to take their feedback on the steps to be taken to resume normal economic activity post the lockdown.  He had indicated that saving lives at this point in time was the prime objective of the government both at state and central level.  He also said that those business which were working under exemption policies, will continue to do so, without taking any additional permissions.

State Housing Minister Shanti Dhariwal said that the spread of the disease was contained to such a level only because of the proactive decision making of Ashok Gehlot, when the state became the first to initiate a lockdown on from 21 March.  Being a tourist hub, Udaipur was one of the riskiest cities in the state, but because of implementing early and strict measure, the city of lakes is in a better state that the rest of the country.

Rajasthan has also banned spitting in public places, said the Minister of Health, Rohit Kumar. Penal action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code will be taken against those spitting in public places.

Of the 98 cases on 10 April, the state capital led the tally with 53 and reported the only death, that of a 65 year old lady, taking the death toll to 8 in the state. The total tally of positive cases in the state stands at 221.  Jaisalmer reported 8 positive case, Jodhpur 9, Banswara 12, Jhalawar 3, Kota 2 and Alwar, Bharatpur and Dausa one each today.

With the Wagad area south of Udaipur being a higher risk area, the southern borders of the City of Lakes were sealed off today.