Maharashtra Covid-19: Stricter Restrictions Or Lockdown? State Likely To Decide On Fresh Guidelines Today

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar last week warned that a fresh lockdown can be imposed in Pune if the Covid-19 situation doesn't improve in the city.

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With Maharashtra once again recording the highest single-day rise since the outbreak last year, Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Thursday hinted that some restrictions could be introduced in the financial city Mumbai from April 2.

What will get affected in Mumbai?

Pednekar while talking to reporters, said hotels could be asked to operate at 50 per cent of the seating capacity and religious places might be shut completely as "people do not listen". Moreover, local train jouneys may also be hampered as a result of worsening situation in the city.  "Train journey might be restricted to only essential services staff only as in the past," the mayor added. Even malls, theatres may also be shut incase people don't follow Covid-19 norms, stated Pednekar, as per news agency PTI. Also Read: Gujarat Assembly Passes 'Love Jihad' Bill Penalising Fraudulent Religious Conversion By Marriage

Pednekar said that private offices could be asked to operate in two shifts.

However, preparations are in full- swing to handle the surge in Covid-19 cases and the number of beds has been increased from 16,000 to 25,000.

Last week Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had warned that a fresh lockdown can be imposed in Pune. Pawar, who is guardian minister for Pune had raised concerns about the Covid-19 situation becoming serious.

"If the situation (in terms of rising in cases) remains the same, we will have to take more stringent decisions in the district by the first week of April," he said.

The deputy chief minister had warned if Covid-19 rules are not followed by people, the administration will have to take some strict decision by April 2, as per the PTI report.

On asked about the delay in fresh restrictions even as cases are increasing, Pawar said the previous experience was that people complain about not getting enough notice before restrictions come into effect. The minister said the state government wants to make people mentally ready before announcing any lockdown. The government also has to think of the poor who live from hand to mouth, Pawar said.

Meanwhile, as per the report in Economic Times, the state government is expected to decide on fresh restrictions which could be stricter to curb the worsening pandemic situation. Chief Minister Udhav Thackery will be chairing a meeting of the task force on the Covid-19 situation on Friday where a decision is expected.

Maharashtra has on Thursday reported 43,183 new Covid-19 cases, once again the highest single-day rise since the pandemic began. This has pushed the total caseload to 28,56,163.

249 deaths have also been reported making another grim record of being highest since October last year, taking the total fatalities to 54,898.