As Maharashtra gears up for another possible lockdown following Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s order to officials to draw a roadmap to contain COVID-19 cases in the state, leaders in the NCP and BJP have opposed the move.
Thackeray had directed officials to prepare a plan for a second lockdown as Maharashtra struggled with rising coronavirus cases. A decision is likely on April 2 after a review.
The state reported a daily jump of 31,643 COVID-19 cases on Monday. In Mumbai, cases added up to over 12,000 in the last 48 hours.
The Shiv Sena chief’s plan for another lockdown does not have a lot of takers
“Most cabinet members are against a lockdown. In the first lockdown, people suffered, a large number lost their jobs and the economy collapsed,” said state minister and spokesperson of alliance partner NCP Nawab Malik.
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Sena leader Sanjay Raut also said he had spoken to Thackeray and suggested that rather than a lockdown, which will further damage the economy, more curbs could be imposed.
“I am not in favour of a complete lockdown. The working class, businesses and the economic cycle will be affected. I spoke to the CM and he too is of the same view,” said Raut.
In a meeting of public health officials and the state’s COVID-19 taskforce with Thackeray over the weekend, the CM said a Standard Operating Procedure must be kept ready to guide the state in the event another lockdown became necessary.
He said that the public is not following protocol with regard to COVID-19, and added that the state does not have enough health facilities in the event of a sharp rise in cases.
Thackeray said a SoP should be put in place to ensure essential services, including supply of foodgrains, medicines, and medical services, are not hamstrung if a lockdown is imposed.
Pradeep Vyas, principal secretary, public health, said infections are shooting up, coursing rapidly through the population. Key facilities, especially beds, ventilators and oxygen supply, would soon turn scarce. Members of the taskforce pointed out that if cases continue to spread, the death toll could also increase.
“Lockdown is the last resort, but we have to consider it because the healthcare infrastructure is crumbling. There are no beds available in the private sector and public-sector beds too are getting filled fast,” said task force member Dr Shashank Joshi who attended the CM’s meeting.
Meanwhile, the opposition has warned of protests if a lockdown is imposed.
“It will hit the poor hard,” said BJP state president Chandrakant Patil, further demanding that the government declare a package of Rs 5,000 for daily wagers who will be impacted by it.
