Will there be lockdown or not in Maharashtra? Thackeray likely to announce decision today

Mumbai, April 21: With corona cases increasing in large numbers in the state, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is likely to announce whether the state needs to be placed under a strict lockdown — in his address scheduled after 8 pm on Wednesday, Maharashtra ministers have confirmed.

 

According to the reports, there will be a very strict lockdown if imposed. Besides, on Tuesday, the issue of a stricter lockdown was discussed in the Cabinet where the majority was in favour of a long lockdown in the state, extending for a week or two, instead of night curfew or the imposition of Section 144.

 

 

"Tomorrow after 8 pm, the Chief Minister will announce the decision on lockdown in the state. We have requested the CM to announce a complete lockdown in the state from tomorrow at 8 pm. This was the request of all ministers to the chief minister. Now it is his decision," Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said.

 

 

Maharashtra urban development minister Eknath Shinde said there is no way out other than a complete lockdown as the health infrastructure of the state is under severe strain. "We have demanded complete lockdown in today's cabinet meeting. The cases are increasing. There is a scarcity of oxygen. There is no way out other than a complete lockdown," Shinde said.

 

Food and civil supplied minister Chhagan Bhujbal said, "We have made all the efforts to minimise the Covid-19 figures. He will announce the decision (to impose lockdown) tomorrow after finalising a detailed Standard Operating Procedure."

 

Meanwhile, 58,924 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, according to the state health ministry. As many as 52,412 people recovered in the said period and 351 died.The total case tally reached 38,98,262 while the death toll reached 60,824.

 

 

After a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray with state COVID-19 Task Force representatives on Saturday, the Cabinet Minister Aslam Sheikh had said that some of the people in the meeting were of view that the lockdown must be for two weeks some were in favour of three weeks but at least 8 days lockdown to be imposed and lockdown is a must.

 

Over the concern of reverse migration of migrant laborers, the Minister said, "Last time when the lockdown was imposed in the country many migrants labourers lost their lives while returning to their native home, so we don't want such situations in the state again, that's why we are taking all the stakeholders in confidence and we are talking to labourers and traders."