ANTI-RACISM PROTESTS: NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYED IN US TRUMP CALLS FOR ADDING INDIA TO ELITE G7 GROUPING ‘Mission Begin Again’ to unlock Maha in phases
EASING CURBS Govt nod for outdoor exercises and pvt offices; Covid-19 tally rises to 67,655
MANN KI BAAT
The Maharashtra government on Sunday extended its coronavirus-enforced lockdown to June 30 even as it extended more relaxations, such as allowing outdoor activities like jogging, running and cycling from June 3 and private offices to operate from June 8 in red zones (excluding containment zones).
Announcing the lifting of curbs that will be rolled out in three phases, the state issued a notification — Mission Begin Again — which aims to bring the state on track to routine life amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
This comes a day after the Centre announced guidelines on lockdown 5.0, billed as ‘Unlock 1’, allowing for significant relaxations.
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, in his Facebook live address on Sunday night, said the lifting of curbs was being done very cautiously as the state was at a turning point. “We have either reached the peak of the curve or are about to reach. There will be a downward trend starting in the next eight-15 days. We are easing it out in a phased manner, so that we will not have to withdraw relaxations like how a few countries were forced to do so. In some countries, the lockdown curbs were reimposed because of the surge, while in some others, schools had to be shut down after they were opened,” he said.
Thackeray also announced that newspapers will be allowed to be delivered at doorsteps from June 7. He said dealers have been directed to ensure that adequate measures are taken for the safety of delivery boys.
Even as the state rolled out its ‘Mission Begin Again’, it reported 2,487 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday, taking the total to 67,655. The toll rose to 2,286 cases with 89 more deaths. The state continued to improve its recovery rate, taking it to 45% as 29,329 patients recovered from the infection till Sunday.