Thackeray’s firm directive comes at a time when Maharashtra is consistently reporting a sharp increase in Covid infections and deaths.
At a meeting with senior health officials and the Covid task force, Thackeray said that restrictions similar to lockdown must be considered if people continue to violate Covid-related rules, reported ANI.
The chief minister said that cases are rising in the state as people are not following the guidelines properly.
“That is why strict steps like lockdown must be considered,” he reportedly told the officials.
Thackeray asked officials to prepare a plan for implementation of a lockdown which will have a minimum impact on the economy on the recommendation of the state Covid-19 task force, an official release said.
In a meeting held with the chief minster, health minister Rajesh Tope and other officials expressed apprehension that the state might report 40,000 fresh cases in the next 24 hours, it said.
During the meeting, the CM reviewed health infrastructure including availability of beds, oxygen, medicines etc. in the state to treat Covid-19 patients.
The task force then recommended that the state government implement measures like a stricter lockdown to stem the rise in coronavirus positive cases.
“There should not be any kind of confusion among the people once a lockdown is announced,” the CM is quoted as saying.
Healthcare system stretched?
Maharashtra has seen a huge rise in coronavirus positive cases over the last week.
As many as one lakh new infections were added to the state’s tally in such short period.
“24,619 cases had been reported on a single day in September, 2020. However, on March 27 this year, the state reported 35,726 new cases in a day. This number could touch 40,000 in the next 24 hours,” the release said quoting the members of the task force.
Dr Vyas made a presentation on the current status of beds, ventilators, availability of oxygen during the meeting.
“There are 3.57 lakh isolation beds in the state of which 1.07 lakh are already filled. The remaining beds are getting filled at a higher speed,” Dr Vyas said, adding that out of the 60,349 oxygen beds, 12,701 beds are already occupied by Covid-19 patients.
“Out of the 19,930 beds, 8,342 beds are already occupied with mild symptomatic patients. 1,881 of the 9,030 ventilators also remain occupied,” he said.
Dr Vyas said some districts in the state do not have vacant beds at all, which is an indication of the health system falling short (to tackle the rising cases).
The health department has blamed the rise in cases to the delayed response by citizens.
“People are not testing in time. They are not following Covid-appropriate behaviour. At the same time, private establishments are not following the 50 per cent attendance norms. There seems a casual approach towards home isolation. These all factors could be some of the reasons behind the spike in the cases,” the department said.
Fresh curbs
Struggling to arrest the fresh surge in Covid cases, the Maharashtra government on Saturday announced a ban on all types of gatherings in the state.
The state government also ordered that restaurants, gardens and malls will remain shut between 8pm to 7am beginning Saturday night.
People will also not be allowed to visit beaches during 8pm to 7am, an official order said.
The state has already imposed night curfew to bring the situation under control.
On Saturday, Maharashtra reported 166 coronavirus-related deaths, its highest this year, besides 35,726 new cases.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
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