COVID-19: Uddhav Thackeray likely to announce complete lockdown in Maha today

In view of the growing number of coronavirus cases, a 15-day complete lockdown will be announced in the state from Wednesday night to bring the situation under control in time. All the ministers have unanimously agreed on this in the cabinet meeting. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will announce his decision on lockdown in the state today after 8 pm.

A number of ministers also said that orders should be issued whre citizens would not be allowed to travel from one district to another without permission.

A committee of two principal secretaries, including Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte, has been constituted and all the ministers are of the view that the committee should prepare rules in this regard by tomorrow morning and announce them in any case tomorrow. The government has offered a package of Rs 5,000 crore for the poor. The situation today is to pay attention to whose employment is lost, or to save the lives of the people? The highest priority must be given to saving people's lives, said Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

Maharashtra Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde reiterated the necessity of lockdown to contain the COVID-19 pandemic."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 told mediapersons.

Maharashtra Minister Aslam Sheikh said, "Looking at the shortage of supply of medical oxygen, Maharashtra is heading towards a complete lockdown; guidelines regarding it will be announced soon."

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.

All groceries, vegetable shops, fruit vendors, dairies, bakeries, confectionaries, all type of food shops, shops related to farm produce, pet food shops, shops related to materials for impending rainy season for individuals/organization will remain open only between 7 to 11 AM.

The Chief Secretary has been given the power to decide whether the attendance in government establishments can be reduced to less than 50 per cent.

It is understood that Vijay Vadettiwar had demanded in the meeting that an order must issued that the Mumbai local should be used only for essential service personnel and government officers. The NCP ministers said that the cabinet had given all the decision-making power to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.