New Delhi (NVI): Amid an extreme surge in Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today announced stricter Covid curbs to stem the spread of pandemic, including a 15-day janta curfew and Section 144 across the state.
In a video address this evening, the Maharashtra CM said that the state government will impose Section 144 from 8 pm tomorrow till 7 am on May 1. In a way, without naming the lockdown, Maharashtra has imposed a strict curfew for over a fortnight.
“All places of worship, schools and colleges, private coaching classes, barbershops, spas, salons and beauty parlous will remain closed from tomorrow till 7am on 1st May,” read the official notification issued by Maharashtra government.
?Guidelines for containment & management of COVID-19 ?#BreakTheChain
(13th April 2021) pic.twitter.com/p6lQ3KMlFi— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) April 13, 2021
The 15-day ‘janta curfew’ includes a ban on gatherings but essential services related healthcare, banks, media, e-Commerce and fuel will be allowed, he said. Emergency services will remain open between 7 AM and 8 PM daily.
He said that shopping centres, malls, film shoots, beaches will be shut, as part of the curfew to break the chain of transmission. “Curbs will remain for hotels and restaurants though home delivery and takeaways will be allowed. Shopkeepers and others in essential services will be fined if they do not follow Covid rules, including vaccination, he said.
Thackeray further said that there is a shortage of medical oxygen, beds and the demand for Remdesivir has also increased. he said that the state is under pressure, despite continuously upgrading the health infrastructure due to increasing number of cases on a daily basis.
He said that he will talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to request him for providing the India Air Force’s assistance on the supply of oxygen for medical use from nearby areas.
The Maharashtra government has also postponed the state board exams for classes 10 and 12, considering the rise in the number of cases. The class 12 exams will now be held by the end of May and class 10 exams in June.
Maharashtra today again reported more than 60,000 cases. This is the second time in last three days that the state has reported more than 60,000 cases.
The state reported 60,212 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours. On Monday, it reported 51,751 new cases. Notably, the state recorded its highest single-day spike on Sunday with 63,294 cases.
-ARK
