In Gujarat, COVID-19 case tally has crossed 1 lakh mark while state registered 1325 new cases during the last 24 hours.

With record 1325 new cases, the total cases of Covid-19 in the state have gone up to 1,00375. The maximum, 179 cases are reported from Surat. Ahmedabad recorded 150 cases while Jamnagar recorded 97 new cases. At the other end, 1126 patients have been discharged after recovery during the last 24 hours. Recovery rate further improves to 80.88 percent.

More than 25,59,000 tests have been carried out in the state till date, out of which 75487 tests were carried out yesterday. At present 16131 active cases in the state, out of which 89 patients are on ventilator. 16 patients have lost their lives yesterday, taking the total death due to Covid-19 in the state up to 3064.

Meanwhile, 28 saints and other staff found Covid19 positive at Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sansthan- BAPS headquarters in Shahibaug Ahmedabad.

Meanwhile, Gujarat government has decided to cut down the salaries of MLAs and ministers by 30 per cent for one year due to COVID-19 pandemic. Government will bring a bill to this effect in the upcoming session of the state assembly. The proposed bill will replace an ordinance issued earlier. Minister of State for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja told the media persons that this decision was made earlier.

The cabinet had then issued an ordinance that elected representatives will be paid 30 per cent less salaries due to the coronavirus pandemic from April 2020 to March 2021. He said that the state government will save Rs. 6.27 crore by the cut in salaries of elected representatives. This money will be used in the fight against coronavirus. The state government has also decided to cut 30 per cent salaries of those employees who have been retained in government services on contracts after retirement.

Additionallyin Gujarat, the State Government has issued Unlock-4 guidelines on the line with those issued by the Union Home Ministry. According to the new guidelines, the public parks and gardens will reopen while the shops will function without any time limit. According to the notification issued yesterday, the public parks and gardens will reopen outside the containment areas. The Open air theatres will start functioning from 21st September.

The cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks and theatres will remain closed. Hotels and restaurants have been permitted to remain open till 11 p.m. while no time limit for takeaway food facilities. Shops are allowed to remain open without any time limit. According to new guidelines, the social, academic, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious and political functions can be held from 21st September with a ceiling of 100 persons.

Street vendors can resume business with strict observance of COVID-19 protocol. Citi bus serves in Ahmedabad and Surat will operate with 50 percent capacity outside the containment zone while in other areas of the state, buses will run with 60 per cent capacity.