Covid-19 second wave: 15-day lockdown possible in Maharashtra, from April 12

As Maharashtra noticed the primary day of a weekend lockdown after 5 days of daytime restrictions and night time curfews, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray Saturday indicated that the state authorities would possible impose an extended lockdown of as much as 15 days to interrupt the chain of an infection, beginning Monday, April 12.
At a gathering of representatives from the ruling three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi, and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, he sought the cooperation of all events for any determination that the state will take on this regard. Thackeray was assured help by all these current, together with former Chief Minister and chief of opposition Devendra Fadnavis.
Fadnavis demanded that the federal government spell out an in depth plan to allay the fears of individuals about job losses and livelihood points throughout the lockdown.

“As an opposition party, we are willing to lend our support to the government and reach out to all constituents affected by lockdown. But at the same time, while explaining the reasons for extreme measures, we have to give them some options to reconcile with the challenges. The economic concerns cannot be dismissed,” he mentioned on the assembly.
Maharashtra on Saturday recorded 55,411 recent Covid-19 circumstances with 9,330 circumstances in Mumbai. Both the state and metropolis have seen a marginal drop in recent infections resulting from restrictions launched in public motion over the week. The energetic caseload within the state is 5.36 lakh. Deaths have risen since March with 309 fatalities on Saturday alone. Since the final 4 days, Maharashtra has recorded over 300 Covid-19 deaths.
In Mumbai, Fadnavis mentioned his get together was not not in opposition to Covid-19 restrictions. “But the government will have to provide an alternative to various sectors. There is massive unrest amongst the people as it relates to their livelihood and business concerns which cannot be ignored.”
Nawab Malik, NCP minister, mentioned all events have agreed that if there was a necessity for a whole lockdown or strict restrictions, then such steps needs to be taken. Congress minister Ashok Chavan mentioned, “Thackeray is preparing a roadmap on how the complete lockdown should be imposed. The restrictions can be revoked gradually if the number of cases starts reducing.”

Mumbai streets remained abandoned on the primary day of weekend lockdown imposed throughout Maharashtra to curb the rising covid-19 circumstances.
Nana Patole, state Congress President, mentioned the state mustn’t impose a lockdown like final yr. “We have told the CM not to impose lockdown like last year as that caused huge hardships to people,” he mentioned.
Government sources mentioned the well being division officers proposed a 15 day-lockdown within the assembly. The precise period — 15 days or till April finish — is more likely to be introduced on Sunday after Thackeray’s assembly with the state Covid process drive. An entire lockdown might come into impact Monday night, mentioned sources.
“Some strict restrictions will have to be imposed for some time to stop the Covid cycle. The number of patients is increasing so fast that if we do not take a decision about lockdown today, a lockdown like situation will automatically arise tomorrow,” mentioned Thackeray within the assembly, which was attended by senior ministers from Sena, NCP, Congress, and leaders from the opposition Devendra Fadnavis, Pravin Darekar and others.

Weekend lockdown noticed in Pune. (Express Photo/Pavan Khengre)Vaccinations dipped from over 4 lakh to 2.72 lakh on Friday as a number of centres within the state remained shut resulting from vaccine scarcity. In Mumbai, 33,551 folks acquired immunised on Friday which additional dropped to 21,094 on Saturday as solely authorities centres functioned.
Private vaccination centres will stay shut in Mumbai till Monday resulting from scarcity in vaccine provide. On Saturday, the NESCO centre noticed an extended queue for vaccines, whereas BKC jumbo centre recorded only a few recipients within the first half.
Civic officers mentioned weekend lockdown might have discouraged many from stepping out.
An extended lockdown might not resemble the robust lockdowns of final yr, if the weekend lockdown is any indication. Several classes of important staff have been allowed to step out of their properties for work. Restaurants had been allowed house deliveries. Public and personal transport remained operational regardless that there have been few takers. “Similarly, it will continue to remain operational even if a complete lockdown is imposed,” mentioned an official.
Another official mentioned one view that emerged from the assembly was that the lockdown needs to be in impact till discount in circumstances is reported for 5 steady days. “What if the cases continue to rise even after 15 days of complete lockdown. It is difficult to have a deadline for this, so it was argued that the lockdown should continue until cases drop for five continuous days,” mentioned the official.

The Chief Minister mentioned the federal government could be aware of the financial affect of the lockdown on the poor. “The government will certainly consider this. But it is very important to first prevent the rapidly increasing infection and rising cases,” he mentioned.
Officials mentioned an “inclusive plan” could be ready to offer aid to the poor and every day wagers. “While it will be a strict and complete lockdown to break the chain, an attempt will be made to figure out a middle path in reducing the cases and to reduce its impact on the economy,” mentioned the official.

The Chief Minister additionally mentioned the strategies made by the chief of the Opposition would even be taken critically. The authorities would take motion on Fadnavis’s strategies on making certain availability of remdesivir, instruction to the laboratories for early experiences of checks, and cautious planning to make oxygen out there, he mentioned.
“I urge all party leaders to extend support to whatever decision is taken by the government keeping the health of the people in mind,” Thackeray mentioned.
Over the previous few days, a whole bunch of migrant staff, who sensed an extended lockdown within the offing as quickly because the restrictions had been introduced, have boarded trains and left for his or her villages in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar. Both Western and Central railways have elevated the variety of trains to locations in North India.
Among those that attended the assembly, Fadnavis, Pravin Darekar and state president Chandrakant Patil represented the BJP, minister Eknath Shinde attended from Sena, Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil, Dilip Walse Patil and Nawab Malik from NCP, and Ashok Chavan, Amit Deshmukh and Balasaheb Thorat and state president Nana Patole from Congress.
(With inputs from Shubhangi Khapre and Tabassum Barnagarwala in Mumbai)