<span style="color: #222222;">Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that COVID-19 patients in the state will be treated free of cost under the state government's Mahatma Jyotiba Phule scheme. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said the novel Coronavirus infection is included in the list of ailments covered under the scheme. Tope said that a total of 1,000 hospitals will be included in the scheme from April 1, where patients can avail free treatment.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He informed that the empanelled hospitals will get 2,000 ventilators. As of now 492 private hospitals in the state are part of the scheme. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Meanwhile, the minister has asked people to cooperate with the government during the 21-day lockdown imposed to fight the novel Coronavirus outbreak.</span><br />