Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray asks administration to make preparations for a lockdown

Amid rising cases of coronavirus in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday directed the administration to plan strategies for a smooth implementation of a lockdown in the days to come.

The CM also said that the cases are rising because people are not following guidelines seriously, thereby necessitating steps like lockdown. During the meeting, he also reviewed health infrastructure including availability of beds, oxygen, medicines etc. in the state to treat COVID-19 patients.

“Plan for lockdown if there is no adherence to restrictions,” Thackeray said, pointing out that while the government is putting up a fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, several stakeholders do not seem to take the situation seriously.


At a meeting of the Covid-19 Task Force, the CM also directed authorities to augment the health infrastructure by enhancing the bed strength and increasing the oxygen and ventilator beds significantly.

The CM also asked officials to prepare a detailed plan for implementation of a lockdown which will have a minimum impact on the economy of the state.

The meeting follows Friday’s meeting of Uddhav Thackeray with Divisional Commissioners, District Collectors, Municipal Commissioners, range Inspector Generals of Police, Police Commissioners and Superintendents of Police.

Pimpri-Chinchwad- The New Hotspot
Pimpri Chinchwad has seen a four-fold rise in cases in the past one month, emerging as the new COVID hotspot. On March 27, the city had 15,415 active Coronavirus cases. So far, Pimpri-Chinchwad has registered a total of 1,32,266 Corona positive cases. Pimpri-Chinchwad has more micro-containment zones than the neighbouring Pune Municipal Corporation.

India recorded 62,714 cases of the COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the country’s Health Ministry said on Sunday, the highest single-day tally since mid-October last year. With 312 deaths, single-day fatalities were also at their highest since Christmas, according to ministry data.

(With inputs from agencies)