"We can't afford a lockdown": Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik

As the case of coronavirus continue to increase in Maharashtra, lockdown seems inevitable. A few days ago, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray too had warned of a lockdown. However, the state minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik has said that he has asked the CM to consider other options.

While talking to reporters Malik said, "We can't afford a lockdown. We've asked the CM to consider other options. Due to rising cases, he has directed the administration to prepare for a lockdown but that doesn't mean that a lockdown is inevitable. If people follow rules, it can be avoided."

At a meeting with senior health officials and the COVID task force, CM Uddhav Thackeray instructed them to prepare for restrictions similar to lockdown if people continue to violate COVID-related rules.

Maharashtra Chief Minister said that the COVID-19 cases are rising because people are not following guidelines seriously and that is why strict steps like lockdown need to be considered.

Meanwhile, the state is observing a night curfew, which was imposed on March 28. During the night curfew, all malls, gardens, beaches, cinema halls etc. will remain closed between 8 pm and 7 am.

Moreover, the Maharashtra government had decided to extend the coronavirus-related restrictions across the state till April 15.

A day after Holi, a complete lockdown in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district has been imposed. It will begin from today, March 30, to curb the spread of coronavirus infections. The lockdown will remain in effect till April 8, 2021.

Maharashtra reported 31,643 new COVID-19 cases, 20,854 recoveries and 102 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the state's health department on Monday, March 29. The total cases reached 27,45,518 including 23,53,307 recoveries and the death toll reached 54,283.

The case fatality rate (CFR) in Maharashtra is at 1.98 per cent while the recovery rate is 85.71 per cent.

According to the health ministry, India registered 68,020 new cases on Sunday, March 28, out of which Maharashtra reported the highest daily new cases at 40,414, followed by Karnataka and Punjab with 3,082 and 2,870 cases respectively.