As Maharashtra continues to worst hit state with second wave of coronavirus,the Maharashtra government on Wednesday announced a lockdown in the Beed district from 26 March till 4 April.

The order to impose a lockdown was issued by the Beed District Collector to prevent further spread of the virus, as per reports. During the lockdown, all schools, colleges, marriage halls, hotels and restaurants will remain shut in the Maharashtra district.

However, shops selling essential commodities including groceries, milk and medicines, will be exempted during this period.

Maharashtra recorded over 28,000 new cases on Tuesday as the state grapples with the “second wave”.

Registering 132 deaths, the state`s new infections rose from 24,645 on Monday to 28,699.

Meanwhile, the Covid surge in Maharashtra and Punjab is cause of grave concern, the Union Health Ministry said today. The last two states and Union Territories that are a cause of concern due to the sudden surge in COVID-19 are Chhattisgarh and Chandigarh, the government said.

The Centre also admitted that a new “double mutant variant” of the virus has been detected in 18 states.