There is no possibility of complete lockout in Maharashtra yet, first stringent restrictions

Amid the growing Kovid-19 cases in Maharashtra, the state government is likely to issue a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) by 1 April, without imposing a complete lockdown, assigning more marks on public agitation. The state has registered close to six lakh cases and more than 2,100 deaths this month. In the last two weeks, Maharashtra has reported a 32.21 percent increase in Kovid cases. On Monday, the state saw 31,643 new cases and 102 deaths, taking the active case to 3.36 lakh. On Monday, 5,890 new cases were registered in Mumbai, 4,972 in Pune and 3,243 in Nagpur.

State officials said that for now, local trains will continue to operate and have minimal impact on economic activity, but restaurants, malls, public spaces, Private offices and pubs are set to see strict protocols to reduce congestion. Officials said offices would be asked to ensure less than 50 percent attendance. On Sunday, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had expressed concern over the economic loss when another lockdown was implemented, directing the Relief and Rehabilitation Department to create an SOP for a possible lockdown. A second meeting date has been set for Tuesday. Secretary of Relief and Rehabilitation Department Aseem Gupta said that they plan to announce some measures to ease the agitation for a few days

. He said, if the desired result of reduction in cases is not seen, then we will go to the next level and implement drastic measures. The difficulties encountered last year will not be repeated. But those who violate the norms, They will be punished and there will be strict implementation of the existing norms. ”Gupta said that he expects cases to peak in Maharashtra by mid-April and follow a mildly declining trajectory thereafter. “Until then, people can expect some form of sanctions for a few days,” he said, adding that the lockdown would be enforced if all these measures fail. Vinita Singhal, Secretary, Department of Labor, said that construction, factories and essential services will continue to function as usual. “But traveling in buses and trains will reduce connectivity. Private offices will be expected to work with a minimum number of employees and stagger.

Singhal said that at this point, Migrant laborers need not worry about returning home. “A complete lockout is under contemplation and has not been finalized yet. We want to educate people and see what works. In a meeting held on Sunday with district officials, Health Minister Rajesh Tope and Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte, the Health Department had advocated a lockout to control the surge in new cases. Health Secretary Drs. Pradeep Vyas, who has been vocal in protesting against a lockout in the past, told The Indian Express that rising cases in the past one week have forced a reconsideration. “I was not expecting the rate of growth of cases to be so high,” he said. In a presentation to the CM on Sunday, Vyas said that four districts – Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Thane accounted for 60 percent of the state’s more than 3 lakh active case

s. Nagpur district officials are blaming double mutations seen in 15–20 percent of virus samples. Vyas informed CM that the current trend is likely to cause heavy pressure on ventilators, oxygen beds and ICUs in the coming days. Of the 60,349 oxygen beds, according to Health Department data, 12,701 are occupied, and 9,030 of ventilators, 1,881 are in use. In Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has decided to take over all small private nursing homes for the treatment of Kovid. Concerns are high in districts such as Aurangabad, Nashik, Nagpur and Pune, where hospital infrastructure is getting smaller and positivity rates are high. In Jalna, 71.25 percent of the total active cases are significant. At the meeting, the State Kovid Task Force conducted a micro-contribution zone, Increased contact tracing and faster vaccination are advised. Members of the Kovid Task Force, Drs. Shashank Joshi said that districts like Nanded are a cluster of affairs. “It is important to push for institutional quarantine. In the absence of adherence to the criteria for home segregation, entire families are testing positive. “.