- Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray: ‘Do you want lockdown? The next eight days will decide’
- On Sunday, Maharashtra logged nearly 7,000 new Covid-19 cases, the biggest jump in the last 3 months
Amid the rise in the Covid-19 cases in the state, the Maharashtra government has announced new coronavirus guidelines including lockdowns and night curfew across various regions in the state. On Sunday, Maharashtra logged nearly 7,000 new Covid-19 cases, the biggest jump in the last 3 months. Calling the coronavirus situation in the state ‘serious’, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray warned that lockdown would have to be reimposed if daily Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the next two weeks.
Take a look at the steps taken by the Maharashtra govt in view of the recent rise in coronavirus cases in the state:
Week-long lockdown in Amravati from today
In wake of a spike in COVID-19 cases, a week-long complete lockdown has been announced in the Amravati District of Maharashtra, the state government said on Sunday.
A curfew will be imposed in Amravati Municipal Corporation and Achalpur Municipal Council limits from 8 pm on February 22 to 6 am on March 1. During this curfew, only essentials shops will be open from 8 am to 3 pm, said Shailesh Naval, Collector, Amravati District.
Night curfew in Nashik from today
As coronavirus cases are surging across Maharashtra, Nashik authorities said night curfew would be enforced in the district between 11 pm to 5 am from Monday till further orders in view of the rise in COVID- 19 cases.
Outbreak protocols will be implemented strictly and those not wearing masks will be fined ₹1,000, while marriage functions, which seem to be a factor behind the spike, will require police permission and that too with just 100 in attendance, they said.
Curbs in Nagpur
Following a spurt in coronavirus in Maharashtra’s Nagpur city, schools, colleges, and coaching classes will remain closed till 7 March, Power Minister Nitin Raut said. The main markets will remain shut on weekends. However, hotels and restaurants can run with 50% capacity.
Marriage halls will also be closed till 7 Mar from 25 February.
Night curfew in Pune
All schools and colleges in the Pune district will remain closed till February 28, said Saurabh Rao, Divisional Commissioner Pune division on Sunday.
“From 11 pm to 6 am no public movement will be allowed in the district except those involved in essential activities/work. Newspaper distributions, vegetable sellers those going to hospitals will be allowed. However unnecessary movement will be completely restricted during this period. We have taken this decision as an advance precaution,’ said Rao.
Yavatmal lockdown
Yavatmal has ordered a 10-day lockdown starting from Thursday night. Schools for students of classes 5-9, colleges, and coaching classes in the Yavatmal district will remain shut till 28 February. Fifty people will be allowed at weddings, Yavatmal collector DM Singh has said.
New guidelines for Mumbai
Mumbai has witnessed a 36.38% rise in the active Covid-19 cases since 8 February, as per the city civic body.
Careless attitude of citizens, allowing the general public to travel in local trains and opening of various other commercial activities were among the reasons behind the current surge in Covid-19 cases in Mumbai, civic officials said.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued fresh Covid-19 guidelines in Mumbai amid a rise in cases.
1) Buildings found to have more than five Covid-19 patients will be sealed.
2) The number of marshals deployed across Mumbai will be doubled to take action against citizens without masks, with the aim to catch 25,000 offenders every day.
3) Around 300 marshals will be deployed in suburban trains to take action against those travelling without masks.
4) All asymptomatic patients being treated at home (home quarantine) to be stamped as earlier.
5) The number of tests will be increased in wards having a rising number of cases.
6) Use of the mask is mandatory in public places like social gatherings such as weddings, restaurants, cinema halls, etc.
7) Passengers arriving in Mumbai from Brazil will be put in compulsory Institutional Quarantine. The municipal commissioner also said that there should be adequate availability of regular and oxygen beds at Jumbo covid centres.
8) MCGM teachers will be deployed at all buildings, offices, hospitals, etc. managed by MCGM with powers to take punitive action against those roaming without masks.
9) Roaming without a mask, a gathering of more than 50 people at a time or any such violation will lead to punitive action.
10) Action will also be taken against those found in playgrounds and parks without masks.
BMC files police complaint on violating Covid norms
The Mumbai civic body has filed a police complaint against the Chheda Nagar Gymkhana and Recreation centre for flouting coronavirus-related rules.
According to the complaint, a wedding ceremony was held at the recreation centre on Sunday, in which as many as 350 people participated without following social distancing norms.
The complaint has been filed by BMC officials at Tilak Nagar Police Station for appropriate action, reported news agency ANI.
On Sunday, the Mumbai civic body had also filed a police complaint against four Dubai returnees who violated the government’s coronavirus-related guidelines and returned to their homes without completing the seven-day quarantine mandatory for international travellers.
‘Lockdown if cases keep rising for 8-15 days’: Uddhav Thackeray
Owing to the spike in COVID-19 cases in the state, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday informed that the coming eight days will decide whether there will be a lockdown in the state.
In a video address, Thackeray said, “Do you want lockdown? The next eight days will decide. Maharashtra has reported around 7,000 COVID cases today. If the COVID-19 situation deteriorates, then we have to impose lockdown. Those who want a lockdown can roam around without mask while those who do not want it must wear a mask and follow all the rules.”
Maharashtra Covid-19 update
NCP president Sharad Pawar today said that he has cancelled all his scheduled public engagements as Maharashtra reported 6,971 new Covid-19 cases and 35 deaths in the last 24 hours. According to the state health department, the total number of Covid cases in Maharashtra has reached 21,00,884 with the addition of new cases.
The death toll in the state has risen to 51,788 with the addition of 35 new deaths. The number of active cases in Maharashtra stands at 52,956.
