Mumbai, Apr 4 (KNN) Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has written to Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman seeking to exempt essential medical equipment from Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Reportedly, in a letter, Pawar asked Sitharaman to exempt 3-ply masks, N95 masks, personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, testing kits, ventilators and other equipment from GST.

Such a decision will bring down their prices, which will help in the efforts to stop the virus outbreak, Pawar, also state finance minister, said.

So far, with 423 cases of COVID-19, Maharashtra stands on top of the list followed by Delhi 384. The total number of COVID-19 patients in India surged to 3210.