COVID-19: Maharashtra lockdown to be extended beyond June 1?; here's what Aaditya Thackeray has to say

India is currently dealing with a devastating second Covid-19 wave that has swept through the nation, crushing the country's health infrastructure and overburdening frontline medical workers. 

Although the number of new corona cases across the state, including Mumbai, Thane and Pune, seems to be declining to some extent, the number of deaths due to corona is worrying. Amid the rising cases, the Maharashtra government has extended the lockdown till June 1. However, the state's environment minister Aditya Thackeray has recommended to extend the lockdown period.

The Thackeray government has imposed strict restrictions in the state till June 1. In an interview to CNBC, Aditya Thackeray spoke regarding lockdown imposition in the state. Despite the lockdown, important offices, manufacturing industries, imports and exports continue in the state. But if you are asking when you will be out of the house for something unnecessary, it depends entirely on the number of patients, said Aditya Thackeray.

It all depends on the number of corona patients in the state. We are trying to increase the number of tests in the state. Everyone is taking the initiative to get tested, and whether the lockdown will be lifted or extended will depend on the number of corona patients. Health and safety is our priority, said Aditya Thackeray.

The state government is putting more emphasis on vaccination. Vaccination is happening at the fastest rate in Maharashtra. We have vaccinated two crore citizens so far. Efforts are also underway globally. If the third wave, which is likely to occur in September-October, is to be prevented, as many citizens will have to be vaccinated and protected. Aditya Thackeray said that the challenge for the state government is to vaccinate people in rural areas where there is a large population.

As India's daily spike of coronavirus cases witnesses a dip with only 2,63,533 fresh infections recorded in the last 24 hours, the number of deaths due to COVID-19 continues to remain alarmingly high with 4,329 more fatalities, the highest toll in a single day since the pandemic began.

As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total of 31,82,92,881 samples have been tested for COVID-19 up to May 17, of these, 18,69,223 samples were tested on Monday. A total of 18,44,53,149 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered across the country so far.