Maharashtra govt likely to impose 15-day total lockdown from today
Despite night curfew and Section 144 in force, state reports 62,097 new cases, 519 deaths
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government is planning to impose a “complete lockdown” for 15 days in order to contain the coronavirus infections in Maharashtra. The decision is likely to be announced on Wednesday.
Despite imposing the night curfew and Section 144 in daytime, the numbers of the patients have been increasing.
In the meeting held on Tuesday, most of the Maharashtra cabinet ministers insisted for “complete lockdown”, said a government official. The public transport including suburban trains and BEST buses may be operational for the essential services personnel.
Maharashtra on Tuesday reported 62,097 new cases taking a total number of active cases to 6,83,856. While 519 new deaths were reported.
Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Aslam Shaikh told this newspaper, “It will be a complete lockdown excluding outstation trains and flights for the next 15 days.”
He said that the suburban trains and BEST buses would remain operational for government employees, who are working in essential services and offices.
Public health minister Rajesh Tope also confirmed that the cabinet has advised the CM to impose complete lockdown. Mr Tope also clarified that the lockdown similar to the one imposed during the first surge of Covid is needed to be imposed to deal with the present situation. Mr Tope said that the chief minister would himself announce the lockdown on Wednesday evening.
The state government on Tuesday tightened curbs in the state. Shops selling groceries, vegetables, fruit, dairy products, and all types of food, including meat and poultry, will be open between 7 am and 11am, an order by the state government said. The new curbs will be effective from Tuesday itself. The disaster management unit (DMU) of the relief and rehabilitation department issued an order in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Bombay high court on Tuesday sought responses from the Central and Maharashtra governments in a plea alleging improper management of Covid medical treatment in the state. The court adjourned the hearing to Thursday. Acknowledging that the petition raised “serious issues of public importance”, the court directed the respondents to come prepared with instructions on the next date of hearing.
A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G.S. Kulkarni sought to know from the petitioner if all the respondents were served the copy of the petition and adjourned the hearing till Thursday