'Still Possibility Of Lockdown In Maharashtra': CM Uddhav Thackeray Addresses People On Covid Surge | Key Highlights

Shiv Sena chief's address to citizens of Maharashtra came hours after Mumbai alone reported as many as 8,832 new cases of Covid-19 in last 24 hours.

Mumbai: On the backdrop of significantly surging cases of Coronavirus across Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday addressed people of the state and said that there is still a 'possibility' of lockdown to tackle the concerning situation of Covid-19. 

"I want to appeal to everyone once more today. We have become a little complacent. Everything has started – weddings, agitations, as if coronavirus has completely gone. We have to be careful," Thackeray said in his address.

Further, Thackeray also said that Maharashtra government will ramp up testing in the state and aims to conduct 2.5 lakh T-PCR tests on a daily basis.

"Till now, we have administered 65 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses including 3 lakh vaccine doses yesterday. Even after vaccination, some people are getting infected because they stop wearing masks," the Chief Minister pointed out.

Here are the top highlights from Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray's address:

- There is still a 'possibility' of complete lockdown to tackle Covid-19 situation.

- There could be a shortage of healthcare infrastructure if the Covid-19 situation deteriorates.

- Want to appeal to everyone once more today. We have become a little complacent. Everything has started – weddings, agitations, as if coronavirus has completely gone. We have to be careful.

- In the coming days, we aim to conduct 2.5 lakh RT-PCR tests daily

- The vaccine is an umbrella to protect you from the rain. But this is not rain. This is a storm.

- Have been ramping up the infrastructure but where would we get doctors and health care workers?

- Only warning today for a complete lockdown. But will have to take a call within next few days if conditions deteriorate.

Shiv Sena chief's address to citizens of Maharashtra came hours after Mumbai alone reported as many as 8,832 new cases of Covid-19 in last 24 hours, taking the overall caseload to 4,32,192. A total of 5,352 people were discharged and 20 fatalities were recorded in Mumbai in 24 hour span. 

Amid the massive surge, Maharashtra's cultural and IT capital, Pune was put under a 'partial lockdown' and other stringent norms were brought in place for a week to control the spread of the virus.

The mini-lockdown includes shutting down hotels, restaurants, bars, cinema halls and multiplexes, and extension of the night curfew hours from 8 pm-7 am to 6 pm-6 am, or 12 hours, starting Saturday.

The decision was a announced after a high-level review meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the Guardian Minister of Pune district with the local administration, civic, police and health officials attending.

During the lockdown in Pune, no public functions of any kind shall be permitted in the district, though 50 guests will be allowed for marriages and 20 mourners at funerals. The administration has appealed to the people to strictly adhere to all Covid protocols if they want to avoid a complete lockdown.

Even all religious places shall be completely shut for the next week, as also all public bus services, and the situation would be again reviewed next Friday.