Keypoints:
- Senior officials have said that all the curbs being observed in weekend lockdown might be extended for weekdays too.
- Series of meetings will be held on Sunday and Monday in which the final decision will be taken whether to impose complete lockdown or not. Detailed plan will be worked out.
On Saturday, a meeting was held by Maha CM Uddhav Thackeray along with leaders from the MVA alliance and BJP. Maharashtra is leading with the rise in number of COVID-19 cases and in the meeting, a decision was taken to impose a lockdown.
However, the sources who attended said that final decision will only be taken after a series of meeting which will be held on Sunday and Monday. The detailed plan will be worked out. Senior officials have said that chances are likely that the curbs which are observed in the weekend lockdown might be extended to weekdays also.
Last year, the lockdown was stringent but this year, it won’t be the same. Only food manufacturing units along with medical diagnostic kits, pharmaceutical industries and their supply chains might be allowed to operate.
“Initially, too, only industries associated with essentials were allowed to operate. A similar restriction may be imposed this time as well,” said sources.
Meanwhile, a Covid taskforce meeting is likely to be held on Sunday in which Deputy CM Ajit Pawar will call for a meeting to plan relief measures on Monday. An official announcement is likely to be made on Monday or Tuesday.
With the Covid cases rising exponentially, Maha CM Uddhav Thackeray has said that there is no other option but to go for stricter curbs.“The number of patients is increasing so fast that if we do not decide on a lockdown today, a lockdown-like situation will automatically arise tomorrow,” said Thackeray.
“This is a health emergency and so priority should be given to the lives of the people. The situation is grim and we have to impose strict restrictions to slow down the spread,” said Thackeray.
“We are all concerned about the poor and the working class. We will think about their problems too, but at the moment we need to stop the rapid spread. If we have to win this fight, we all have to go through some hardships,” said Thackeray.
Senior officials have also said that the current restrictions will continue, unchecked daytime movement on weekdays may be restricted too.
“There are nearly 60,000 people who head out to vaccination centres in Mumbai every day. There will be students going out for exams. Public transport will continue for all those who have a valid reason to step out,” said the official. Also, long-distance trains will continue to run so that no one is stuck and there is no panic.
“While imposing more restrictions, the government should also take into account public sentiment. Relief must be extended to small traders, retailers and salon owners whose business is also impacted,” said Devendra Fadnavis, leader of the opposition. Fadnavis further said medicines, oxygen supply and health infrastructure should be ramped up not only in the cities, but in rural areas as well.
“There was a debate regarding whether a seven-day lockdown suffice, but health officials were of the opinion that at least a 15-day lockdown is required to have the desired impact,” said a senior official.
Senior officials have added that CM Thackeray had pointed out the infrastructure available today will prove to be inadequate in the next few days. Also, demand for oxygen too has gone up considerably and the state may soon run out.
