Bhopal, May 31 (IANS): The lockdown in Madhya Pradesh will continue till June 15, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan announced on Saturday. He said the decision on reopening of schools and colleges will be taken after June 13. The lockdown is being extended in view of the persisting threat of coronavirus.

The Government's decision comes at a time when the number of infected in the state has increased to 7,891. 246 new cases of corona infection were reported in the last 24 hours. So far 343 patients have died due to the virus in the state. The state still has 3,104 active cases.

All the districts except Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Burhanpur, Khargone, Khandwa and Barwani are in the Green Zone in the state and markets have been opened with certain stipulations everywhere. Sports activities are also being resumed starting from June 1 in most parts of the state.

Meanwhile Sagar district has become the new hot spot with 24 new cases being reported on Friday.

Restrictions will continue on visits to prison inmates to prevent corona infection. The jail headquarters issued an order on Saturday banning meetings of relatives with jail inmates till June 30.

Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath in a tweet asked the government if liquor shops have been opened, why can't the religious places be opened too from June 1?