Keypoints:
- On Friday, Maharashtra reported 63,729 new cases of Covid-19 taking the western state’s total infection tally above 3.7 million.
- Maha Health Minister Rajesh Tope has said that chief minister Uddhav Thackeray-led government is considering further tightening the restrictions amid the rampant violations of the lockdown norms.
- The state health minister’s remark comes on a day when Maharashtra reported 63,729 new cases of the coronavirus disease.
On Friday, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope warned the people of the state saying that stricter lockdown will be imposed if the citizens don’t adhere to the Covid guidelines and norms. He also said that Maha CM Uddhav Thackeray led Government is considering further tightening the restrictions amid the rampant violations of the lockdown norms.
“The people are not following the rules resulting in crowding at public places. A strict lockdown for 15 days to break the chain of virus transmission is necessary. If the violation continues, we will impose stricter lockdown in the state,” Rajesh Tope said.
Tope’s remarks comes on a day when the state reported 63,729 fresh cases of the virus which took the western state’s total infection tally above 3.7 million.
Amidst the rise in cases and the second wave of the virus, Maharashtra is already witnessing weekend curfew and night curfew starting 8pm on April 14 to 7am May 1. The government has also restricted the movement of people during the daytime by imposing section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibits the assembly of more than five people.
During the partial lockdown in the state, only essential services are allowed to operate. Furthermore, the Government has banned dine-in services in restaurants, except for those staying in hotels attached to them.
Earlier, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar also warned the residents of Pune of a complete Lockdown.”Pune residents gave a good response to the weekend lockdown. I am hoping that they will follow the rules in the upcoming days. Otherwise as some of my fellow ministers have warned, a complete lockdown like last year may have to be imposed. I request citizens to follow the rules and do not push the administration to take this decision. In complete lockdown, many suffered a great deal of hardships,” he said.
