No fresh lockdown in Delhi, Maha
■ India sets new grim record, registers 10,956 cases in 24 hrs
India registered another grim record on Friday as the number of daily fresh cases of novel coronavirus breached the 10,000-mark for the first time, taking the overall tally closer to 3 lakh. In 24 hours, India recorded its biggest jump of 10,956 cases and 396 deaths, throwing state governments in a scramble to come up with a fresh strategy to stop the new infections from multiplying further.
Amid speculation of fresh lockdown by state governments, Maharashtra and Delhi clarified that there will not be a blanket lockdown.
“The lockdown has not been reimposed. CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray has appealed to the people to refrain from crowding. He has earnestly requested them to follow the Govt’s instructions and take necessary precautions to stay safe and take care,” chief minister’s Uddhav Thackeray’s office tweeted. Maharashtra has the highest number of coronavirus cases.
“As of now, Begin Again is in motion. @CMOMaharashtra Uddhav Thackeray ji has appealed to all citizens to ensure social distancing, so as to not get even close to a lockdown. Safety of citizens is and will be the only parameter,” Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray tweeted.
In Delhi, state health minister Satyender Jain also said that there are no plans for a fresh lockdown. Delhi L-G Anil Baijal held a meeting with the chief minister, chief secretary and other officials, including from Delhi Police and ministry of home affairs, to discuss strategies for containment zone management.
It is believed that states may put in place some stringent rules to prevent mass movement of people in hotspots.
“Advised field officers to focus on proper delineation, strict perimeter control, intensified IEC (information, education, communication), active house-to-house surveillance with special focus on high-risk population,” tweeted Mr Baijal.
He added that increasing bed capacity and improving medical resources is the topmost priority in handling the Covid-19 crisis to ensure that a surge in cases does not overwhelm the city’s healthcare system.