The Maharashtra government today extended the state’s lockdown-like restrictions until June 1 in order to crack the COVID-19 chain. The steps will be in effect until 7 a.m. on June 1, according to an order released today by Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte.
The latest regulations include a mandatory negative RT-PCR test report for those entering the state, as well as restrictions for those coming from “critical backgrounds.”
“Milk collection, transportation, and processing may be permitted without limitations, but retail selling may be restricted to shops dealing with important goods or by home delivery,” it said.
The local disaster response Authority (DMA) has been tasked with ensuring that Covid Appropriate Behaviour is seen in rural markets. “Local DMA should hold special vigil over rural markets and APMCs and ensure Covid Appropriate Behaviour,” it says. “If local DMA considers any such place as difficult to handle and discipline to ensure non-spread of Covid epidemic, local DMA can decide on a case by case basis to close this or may enforce further restrictions.”
“Personnel engaged in Airport and Port facilities and required for the transport of cargo related to drugs or equipment required for Covid management will be permitted to fly in central, mono, and metro services,” the order said.
According to the Health Ministry, Maharashtra is one of the states that account for 82.51 percent of all active patients.
On Wednesday, the western state, which includes the financial capital of Mumbai, announced 46,781 new cases and 816 deaths. In the last 24 hours, up to 58,805 patients were discharged.
According to the health department, the positivity rate has dropped to 17.36%, while the fatality rate has dropped to 1.49%.
Pune had 9,536 cases and 74 deaths, while Mumbai had 2,104 cases and 66 deaths.
With approximately 3.5 lakh cases and 4,000 deaths recorded daily, India is in a state of emergency in the latest wave of COVID-19 infections. Hospitals and morgues are overcrowded, emergency personnel is tired, and oxygen and medications are in short supply.
Despite being the world’s vaccine production center, India has only managed to completely immunize 2.5 percent of its population.
