A day after Maharashtra reported 49,447 new positive COVID-19 cases—the highest single-day spike ever since the pandemic began—the state government today announced a weekend lockdown from 8pm on Friday to 7am on Monday in a bid to curb the surge in COVID-19 cases.
The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Apart from the weekend lockdown, strict restrictions will be in force from Monday 8pm onwards, Minority Affairs Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
He said that night curfew will continue and prohibitory orders issued under section 144 will be in force during the day time during the week.
"Apart from the weekend lockdown, strict restrictions will be in force from 8pm tomorrow, under which shopping malls, bars, restaurants, small shops will be open only for take-aways and parcels. Government offices will be allowed to function only at 50 per cent of their capacity," he said.
Industries and production sector, vegetable markets will function with Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) and construction sites will operate if there is accommodation facility for workers, he added.
Theatres, drama theatres will be shut, while film and television shootings will continue if there is no crowding. Parks and playgrounds will also be closed, he said.
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Religious places will have to follow the SoPs, Malik said, adding that that public transport system will remain functional.
Mumbai city guardian minister Aslam Shaikh told reporters that work from home will be encouraged for offices, except for insurance, mediclaim, electricity and civic offices.
Essential services have been exempted from the existing night curfew, he said.
India, on Sunday, recorded 93,249 new coronavirus infections, the highest single-day rise so far this year, which took the total COVID-19 cases to 1,24,85,509, according to Union health ministry data. This is the biggest daily rise in cases since September 19, when 93,337 fresh infections were recorded. The death toll climbed to 1,64,623 on Sunday with 513 new fatalities, the ministry data updated at 8am showed.
According to the health ministry, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Haryana have contributed 90 per cent of COVID cases and 90.5 per cent of deaths in 14 days till March 31.
(With PTI inputs)
