Keypoints:
- ‘Whether lockdown will be implemented again, is in the hands of people,’ BMC mayor Kishori Pednekar said.
- On Monday, Maharashtra reported 3,365 fresh coronavirus cases, the highest single-day rise since the first week of January.
- Mumbai city continued to report the highest single- day cases in the state with a spike of 493 on Monday.
- The state has witnessed an alarming rise in new cases in the last few days.
On Tuesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray asked the people to.follow the COVID norms strictly or they will be facing another lockdown. Considering the rise in COVID cases, state reported more than 3,000 cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Tuesday for the seventh straight day.
On Tuesday, Maharashtra registered 3,663 new cases of the coronavirus disease out of which 461 of them were reported from Mumbai, after reporting 4,092 infections on Sunday, highest single-day tally in more than a month.
Thackeray said that it depends on the citizens of Maharashtra whether to follow strict COVID norms or to be ready to face another lockdown.
“It is up to the people of the state to decide if they want a lockdown or live freely with some restrictions. Wear face masks and avoid crowds or else (you) will need to go into a lockdown again,” Thackeray said.
“People may have become complacent but the authorities should not (drop guard),” Thackeray said during a virtual review meeting with divisional commissioners and collectors.
Non-implementation of the standard operating procedures regarding Covid-19 safety is a serious issue, Thackeray said and stressed the need for contact tracing of each patient in areas where cases are rising. “The administration should contact commercial establishments and organisations and check if they are following SoPs. Wherever necessary, declare containment zones… Contact tracing must be done in a targeted manner. At least 20 contacts of each patient should be traced and tested,” the CM suggested.
Authorities should cancel permits and licences of halls and auditoriums where safety SoPs are not followed during marriages and other social functions, CM added. The chief minister directed that field hospitals should be monitored to check if all facilities are functional. He also said that mobile vans should be used in rural areas to increase the number of Covid-19 tests.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar urged people to take precautions and also warned that a lockdown will be imposed if people fail to follow the guidelines. “It’s a matter of concern,” Pednekar said. “Most people travelling in trains don’t wear masks. People must take precautions or else we might head towards another lockdown.”
On Sunday, Maharashtra recorded 4,092 cases, the highest single-day rise in more than a month.
