Maharashtra reported 9,518 new cases and 258 deaths, taking the total number of cases to 3,10,455 and death count to 11,854. As many as 3,906 people were discharged yesterday taking the number of those discharged to 1,69,569. Mumbai has reported 1,046 fresh Covid-19 cases and 64 deaths.

Meanwhile, in the wake of complaints of inflated private hospital bills, State Health Minister Rajesh Tope has informed that auditors have been appointed to check these bills. He was addressing a meeting in Solapur while taking stock of the Covid-19 situation.

Our correspondent reports, Maharashtra’s Health Minister Rajesh Tope informed that independent auditors have been appointed to verify bills of Covid-19 patients, treated in private hospitals. Amid constant complaints of inflated private hospital bills, he assured that the bill of the patients admitted for Covid-19 will only be given to them after being inspected by an auditor.

The Health Minister assured that the state government has increased testing across the state. He also informed that Plasma therapy will be conducted in 18 medical colleges in the state soon. He has suggested the concerned officials create a dashboard to let people know how many beds are vacant in which hospital.

With more than three lakh cases, Maharashtra is leading the Corona tally among states. Pune has become a hotbed for the novel virus with ever-increasing cases. The city recorded 1,589 cases yesterday which is more than Mumbai where 1,186 new cases were reported on the same day.

Our correspondent reports, with growing cases in Pune, the hospitals in the city are now falling short to cater to the rapidly increasing requirement for special beds for Corona patients. This has led to the formation of Covid care centers in the city. Covid Care Centres are meant to isolate suspected cases of the novel virus and also provide the patients with mild treatment.

At present, there are 9,400 patients in 12 Covid centers, while another18 Covid centers are being set up. Covid Centers have also been started now in various colleges in Pune. One such Center has come up at the hostel of Pune’s famous Fergusson College with arrangements for 300 patients. Currently, Pune has 29,583 active coronavirus cases while Mumbai has 23,948 active cases.

Meanwhile, the civic administration of the district has issued stern instructions to three private hospitals to start Covid care Centres in the next 48 hours failing which action will be initiated against them. These three hospitals are among few hospitals which are yet to start Covid Care Centres in spite of the administration’s directive to all private hospitals to at least provide 25 beds for Covid patients.

In the wake of the surge in Covid-19 cases lockdown has been re-imposed in Pune and Pimpri- Chinchwad region from July 13 midnight. The lockdown will be in place till 23rd July. After Mumbai, Pune has seen a relentless increase in Covid-19 cases, prompting the administration to impose lockdown. correspondent reports that in Pune, the 10-day lockdown has come into effect. All the main roads and squares have been closed as police have put up barricades and strict checking is being done to avoid unnecessary movement of citizens.