CM takes stock as fresh cases dip to 174-day low
MUMBAI: Maharashtra on Monday recorded its lowest one-day spike in Covid-19 cases in nearly six months (174 days) as it added 4,505 fresh infections, taking its tally to 6,357,833. The state had reported 3,663 cases on February 16. Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray met the state’s Covid-19 task-force members to deliberate over further relaxations, including opening up malls, cinema halls, auditoriums, places of worship, and increased operational hours for restaurants and eateries. Besides that, CM discussed preparations for a possible third wave.
The active case count in the state stood at 68,375 on Monday. The state also reported 68 deaths, pushing the toll to 134,064. Mumbai added 218 new cases, taking city’s tally to 737,715. Mumbai added three fatalities, pushing its toll to 15,954, and active cases were 4,599 on Monday.
Thackeray took stock of the Covid-19 situation and sought a view from experts on further unlocking in restrictions, senior officials said. Last week, minister Aaditya Thackeray had hinted that not just local trains, the state will look at easing curbs for people, who have taken both jabs, in other activities as well.
A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said, “In the task force meeting, discussions were held on the possible third wave, the requirement of oxygen, increasing the pace of vaccination, boosting testing-tracking as well as on how to ease restrictions in the coming days, while maintaining caution, in other sectors.” The task force has been directed to prepare rules based on the instructions given by the CM, the statement added. A decision on further easing of relaxations are expected this week.
An official said, “The task force has recommended caution as reopening now could hasten the third wave. The relaxations, if they are announced next, will be for double-vaccinated people in the first phase. The idea is to postpone the reopening of all activities for everybody. At the same time, they have recommended speeding up the vaccination drive.”